The Fort Dodge Messenger
Friday, October 8, 2009

Our loving mother and grandmother, Darlene H. Lowe joined her husband Harold in God's Eternal resting place on October 7, 2009 at Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10th in the Chapel of Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home with Rev. Allen Henderson, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Darlene is surviving by her children, Harold Lowe Jr. (Judy) of Fort Dodge, Nancy Crotts (and her late husband Melvin) of Boone, Danny Lowe (Joan) of Fort Dodge, Claude Lowe (Shirley) of Henderson, NV, Claudia Frazier (fiance Larry) of Radcliff, Georgia Vinsant (Jim) Murfreesboro, TN, Tommy Lowe (Lisa) of Fort Dodge, Sherri Purcell (Eric) of Mishawaska, IN, Michelle Patterson (and her late husband Mark) of Fort Dodge. Darlene also leaves behind 51 grandchildren; 109 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce George (late husband Bill), Patricia Neavin (Bob) of Fort Dodge. She was preceded in death by her 6 brothers, 5 sisters, parents, John and Hazel (Archer) Yates.

Darlene H. Yates was born March 16, 1927 in Marcus, Iowa. At the age of 14 she worked on Ralph and Mae Whittington's farm and left for Illinois for a short span to work on airplanes during the war. She returned to the farm and worked again until she became employed at the Serum Plant (Fort Dodge Labs) for a span. She met her husband during this time and on January 27, 1948 they were united in marriage in Webster City. Darlene took time off from work to become a homemaker. She returned to work when her youngest child was 17 and was employed at Safeway for 22 years. After Safeway left the Midwest, she was employed at the Fort Dodge Messenger for a period and left there to become a companion/sitter for the elderly. She retired at the age of 71.

She loved playing Bingo with her sisters Janice Knudson and Pat Neavin. She enjoyed reading and watching Law & Order, CSI and Poker After Dark. Before Harold passed, she enjoyed camping and fishing. But her most favorite joy was planting flowers with her son Tom, spending time with her grandkids and watching them grow. In the early days, she enjoyed weekends together with her kids playing cards and getting together on Holidays with all the family. She was an extremely giving person.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.