Darlene M. Gruetzmacher

Darlene M. Gruetzmacher, 85, of Mason City, Iowa and formerly of Hazleton, died on Saturday morning, May 21, 2011 at the Hospice Inpatient Unit at Mason City, Iowa

Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church in Oelwein, Iowa; Officiating: Rev. Mark E. Lavrenz from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa; Visitation: from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and after 9:30 A.M. on Saturday at the church; Interment: St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery at Westgate, Iowa

A Memorial Fund has been established in her name

Online Obituary at: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Darlene May Zupke was born on May 29, 1925 at Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of Carl Phillip and Eva Lela Fern (Paul) Zupke. She graduated from Fayette High School at Fayette, Iowa in 1943. Darlene married Harold Frederick Gruetzmacher on June 6, 1947 at Fayette, Iowa. She was a country school teacher near Hawkeye, a office clerk at Gamble's Store, sales clerk at the Conner's Department Store in Oelwein for 24 years until it closed in 1986 and assisted Harold on the farm for many years. Darlene was a former member of Peace Lutheran Church in Oelwein and was currently a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City. She has lived in Mason City since 2005. Darlene enjoyed spending time with her family, loved to garden, walking, ballroom dancing with Harold, and attending church functions. Darlene enjoyed listening to KCMR radio station in Mason City and was a friend of KUNI public radio in Cedar Falls.

Darlene is survived by:
Son--Dwight (Nancy) Gruetzmacher of Duluth, Minnesota
4 Daughters--Vicki (Steve) Wolfe of Mason City, Iowa
Jackie Tallman of Cresco, Iowa
Kelly Renee (Merle) Brockshus of Mason City, Iowa
Kristi Kay Gruetzmacher of Clear Lake, Iowa
10 Grandchildren--Sara (Rob) Berding of Mason City, Matt (Courtney) Wolfe of Mason City, Heidi Wolfe and Blake Cooper of Mason City, Tony Tallman of Coralville, Benge (Gisele) Tallman of Iowa City, Lindsay Tallman of Coralville, Josh Brockshus of Mason City, Noah Brockshus of Mason City, Talia Gruetzmacher of Duluth, Minnesota and Clayton Gruetzmacher of Duluth, Minnesota
6 Great Grandchildren--Morgan and Ethan Beals, Logan (Sara) Berding, Dakota Scott, Elliot Pace, Madelyn (Matt) Wolfe, and soon to be born grandson to Heidi and Blake
Brother--Vaylard (Lorna) Zupke of Randalia, Iowa
Sister-in-law--Gladys Klemp of Sumner, Iowa

She was preceded in death by her Parents--Husband (Harold F. Gruetzmacher on December 12, 2003).