Darlene E. (Groom) Fletcher

Darlene E. Fletcher, 87, of Clarion passed away Friday, November 26, 2010 at Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

Funeral services for Darlene Fletcher will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion with Pastor Mark Gustafson officiating.  Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Rowan.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 29, 2010 from 5-7 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street, in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. 

Darlene Ellen (Groom) Fletcher was born September 22, 1923 in rural Wright County to James and Celia (Azeltine) Groom.  Darlene attended high school in Rowan, where she participated in basketball and graduated in 1941.  After graduation, she attended A.I.B. in Des Moines.

After returning to the area, Darlene worked for Wright County Extension for a few years before marrying Merle “Flash” Fletcher on September 19, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Rowan.

Darlene and Merle operated Fletcher Oil in Clarion and Eagle Grove until their retirement in 1987.  In September of 1977, they made their cabin at Lake Cornelia their year round home.  The couple also spent 20 winters at Country Sunshine in Weslaco, Texas. Darlene participated in the neighborhood bridge club for many years, and she and Merle belonged to the Ghost Town Ramblers, a motorcycle club, for several years.  She was also a member of the Red Hat Ladies Group at Lake Cornelia.

Darlene was a member of the Clarion Church of Christ Congregational for over 50 years, and in that time held many offices.  She was very active in the church, teaching Sunday school and serving as Sunday school superintendent for several years.

Darlene was very passionate about flower gardening and was an avid bird watcher.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She even served as Cub Scout Den Mother for several years while her boys participated.

Darlene is survived by her husband of 62 years, Merle “Flash” Fletcher of Clarion; her children Sara (Dale) Smith, Tim (Shelley) Fletcher, Jim (Cindy) Fletcher, and John (Kathy) Fletcher, all of Clarion; her grandchildren: David (Jenny) Smith, Andrea Anderson, Benjamin Foster, Hannah Foster, Shannon (Todd) Lerdal, TJ (Jessica) Fletcher, Courtney (Greg) Lehrman, Eugene Waage, Elizabeth (Terry Hatfield) Waage, Dustin (Jessica) Waage, Nicole (Josh) Askvig, Rachel Fletcher, Ben Rasmussen, Kama (Dr. Galaxy) Rasmussen-Li, and Noel Rasmussen; 15 great-grandchildren; sister Margrete Jones of Dows, brothers Thomas (Edna) Groom of Clarion and Dwight (Marjorie) Groom of Rowan; and sister-in-law Mildred (Eddie) Rollins of Anaheim, California, along with numerous nieces and nephews, other family members, and friends.

Darlene is preceded in death by her parents, mother-in-law Grace Fletcher, and a brother-in-law, Ordean Jones.