Darlene Plaehn

Darlene L. Plaehn, 94, of Reinbeck, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025 at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 225 Broad Street in Reinbeck. Inurnment will follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery. A reception and fellowship for all will follow at Westview Estates, 1013 Second Street, Reinbeck.

Darlene was born on May 16, 1930 on a farm near Waverly, IA, the daughter of Ernest and Louise (Dietrich) Lampe. She attended country school, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, and Waverly High School before moving to Reinbeck with her family. She graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1947. Darlene was united in marriage to Paul Plaehn on October 11,1952 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

Family was very important to Darlene and she shared wonderful stories of growing up on the farm in Waverly with her eight siblings. She loved living next door to Grandma and Grandpa Lampe and celebrating holidays, informal gatherings and reunions with the Lampe and Plaehn families. Darlene and Paul enjoyed attending all of their children’s school, sports and church events.

Darlene worked at the Reinbeck Elementary School as a secretary for 22 years, retiring in 1990. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Reinbeck and the Happy Hour Group and Eve Circle. She enjoyed reading, sewing, quilting, baking, and jigsaw puzzles. She loved traveling and made many trips across the country and to Canada and England to visit her children and grandchildren.

After leaving her home of 70 years, she moved to Westview Estates in 2022. She enjoyed a new community and participated in lively games of Rummikub and hymn singing.

Darlene will be missed by her two daughters, Connie Plaehn of Minneapolis, MN; Cynthia Robinson of Lititz, PA; her son, Kent (Ann) Plaehn of Mackinaw, IL; five grandchildren, four step grandchildren, four great grandchildren, thirteen step great grandchildren; her sister, Carol (Bob) Shaw of Bondurant, IA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Kevin; two grandsons, Tom and Sam; four brothers, Lester, Paul, Ernest Jr., and W. Dean; and three sisters, LuElla, Estel, and Georgia.

No gifts or flowers are necessary in Darlene’s memory. Your support and sympathy are greatly appreciated. If you would like to honor her with a donation, her family suggests:

The Reinbeck EMS

https://reinbeck.org/volunteer-fire-%26-ems

Cedar Valley Hospice

https://www.cvhospice.org/donate/#donatenow

The Union Congregational United Church of Christ

https://unioncongucc.org/donate