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Photo of Darlene M. (Anderson) Bierl

Darlene M. (Anderson) Bierl

2/7/1935 - 3/19/2019


Obituary


Darlene M. (Anderson) Bierl, 84, of Clarion, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Darlene Bierl will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, March 25, 2019 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with a Rosary beginning at 4:00 PM, and Scriptural Wake Service to follow Rosary.

Darlene Marlys, daughter of Thomas Lewis and Alma Josephine (Ellingston) Anderson, was born on February 7, 1935 on the family farm in rural Belmond. She grew up in the Clarion area and attended school in Clarion.

On February 16, 1952, Darlene was united in marriage to Donald Bierl at St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion. The couple made their home in Clarion and together raised five children. Darlene was a very active mother in her children’s lives; she was the Cub Scout den mother for all three boys, as well as daughter Mona’s Camp Fire Girl leader for over 10 years. After the kids were a little bit older, Darlene started working for the newspaper, first selling advertising and later writing a weekly column called “Bless This Mess”. She later worked for Mueller’s Photography and Lifetouch Studios, taking studio portraits and wedding pictures, as well as school pictures all across Iowa.

Darlene lived her faith every day. She taught 2nd Grade CCD and first communion classes, Pre-school Sunday school, was the St. John’s Director of Religious Education for several years and even sponsored people joining the Catholic Church. She participated in the church Christmas program – even writing scripts and making costumes. She was extremely artistic and loved to scrapbook. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading romance novels. Darlene also enjoyed taking various trips with Don around the country in their motorhome. Her most memorable trip was visiting her ancestral home in Norway with her sister.

Darlene is survived by her five children, Mike Bierl of Clarion, Mona (Denny) Kotenbrink of Hampton, Michelle Bierl of Clear Lake, Steve (Heather) Bierl of Bloomington, IL, and Jamie (Joann) Bierl of Des Moines; six grandchildren, Heather (Brent) Stemsrud of Des Moines, Amy (Grissel) Castro of Fort Dodge, Kendall (Jacob) Raby of Virginia, Steven Bierl of Illinois, Trinity Bierl of Des Moines, and Hailey Bierl of Des Moines; seven great-grandchildren, Zachary, Alaina, Kate, Ian, Blake, Kameron, and Emilie; two sisters, Karen (Gary) Hobbie of Clarion and Bonnie (Gerald) Sinkler of Nevada; and numerous other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2005; an infant sister; sister Jeanne; brothers Les, Duane, and Roger; and granddaughter Brianna Weismann.