Darlene Edna Schmitz

Darlene Edna McColley was born on August 9, 1935 in Jackson County, MN to Peter and Anna (Mikulina) McColley. She attended school in Jackson, MN. On February 9, 1952 Darlene was united in marriage to Gene Schmitz in Jackson, MN in the Pastor's Parlor. They lived in Butterfield for five years before moving to Lewisville in 1957. Darlene worked for Tony Downs in Madelia and for Weston's Plating Plant in St. James, MN. Darlene was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Lewisville, MN. She loved flowers, gardening and the birds in her yard. Her yard was always decorated for the season at hand. Darlene enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Darlene died on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Truman Senior Living, Truman, MN. Darlene is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gene Schmitz, Lewisville, MN; two daughters, Deb (Craig) Lehmann, St. James, MN, Midge (Doug) Sieg, Truman; Gene "Butch? Schmitz, Jr., St. James, MN, Bob (Becky) Schmitz, Chandler, AZ; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; two step sisters, Linda Nelson, Montevideo, MN, Diane (Lloyd) Olson, Trimont, MN; one step brother, Everett (Sandy) Rettig, Jackson, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter, Kimberly Sieg and one sister, Loretta Bonkoski. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Zion Lutheran Church-Lift Fund or to the American Cancer Society.