Darlene R. (State) Borel

Darlene R. (State) Borel, 94, of Clarion passed away Monday, May 20, 2019 at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Darlene Borel will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue North East in Clarion with Reverend Mike Gudka officiating. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Darlene Roberta was born November 28, 1924 to George Guy and Bessie Roberta (Barnes) State on the State family farm south west of Galt. She was the second of five children. She attended Lincoln #6 Country School through 8th grade, then graduated from Clarion High School in 1943. She was baptized and confirmed at the Galt Congregational Church.

After graduation, Darlene worked at A&P Grocery, Koethe’s Dime Store and helped care for families of newborn babies. During a church roller skating party at Lake Cornelia, Darlene met Don Borel. The couple later married on her family farm on March 3, 1946. To this union, three children were born. The couple farmed in Lincoln Township for three years then moved and farmed four miles south west of Clarion. In 1970, they moved to Clarion and became “city farmers” before retiring in the fall of 1998.

Darlene worked side by side with Don in the farming operation and together enjoyed dancing at the Surf Ballroom and playing 500 with the card party bunch. She raised a large garden – canning and freezing fruits and vegetables. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church, serving on various committees, and volunteered on the Cancer and Loan Closet board, Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, and worked in the hospital gift shop. She belonged to the Neighborhood Get-Together Club and enjoyed time with “The Therapy Group.” Through the years she did housekeeping chores for people and snow removal in the winter alongside Don.

Spending time with family and supporting her grand and great-grandchildren’s activities was very important to her. Riding her blue Schwinn bike around town well into her 80’s was a common sight, until her family took her bike license away.

Darlene will be remembered for being caring, compassionate, always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed, and most of all, her wonderful smile!

Darlene is survived by her children, Donna Johnson of Kanawha, Janice (Denny) Murphy of Clarion, and Dean Borel of Waterloo; grandchildren Brent (Terra) Johnson, René (Dan) Retterath, Neal (Stephanie) Murphy, Darren (Jody) Johnson, Greg (Leslie) Murphy, Isaiah Borel, and Evan Murphy; great-grandchildren Chloe, Dakota, Jordyn, Remi, Abigail, Jadyn, Kerriann, Indy, Lily, Devin, Madden, Etta, Hattie and another on the way; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

Darlene is preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald in 2015, brother Myron State and sisters Jean Wilson, Marilyn Amsbaugh and Virginia Minor and son-in-law Alfred Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clarion First United Methodist Church or Gateway Hospice.