Darlene H. Black

Darlene Helen (Jahnz) Black, formerly of Amboy, passed away on January 16, 2024 at Birchwood Cottages, North Mankato MN. Services are scheduled for Wednesday January 24 at 11:00am at St. John’s Lutheran Church Willow Creek, rural Vernon Center. Visitation will be 2 hours before the service. Darlene was born June 9, 1935 to Alvin and Helen (Kietzer) Jahnz on the family farm in Pleasant Mound township, Blue Earth County.

She was baptized and confirmed at St John’s Willow Creek and graduated from Truman high school in 1953. On January 10, 1954 she married Delbert Black at the church parsonage. They were married 56 years. Delbert passed away in 2010. She moved into Birchwood Cottages in the fall of 2020.

She enjoyed being a homemaker and farm wife and helped with the fieldwork and as a shuttle driver giving rides to and from the field. Delbert even had her running the combine. She had a very strong faith in the Lord and loved her church and church family. She was a member of the Mary Martha and Alter Guild and also served as a 4-H leader. She enjoyed gardening and exhibiting her flowers and vegetables at the county fair and sharing her bounty with neighbors and friends. She loved to attend the sporting and school events of her grand and great grandchildren. Her high school friends turned into lifelong friends and she enjoyed going out to lunch with them to celebrate birthdays up until last year.

Survived by her children, Randy Black and Jeannie (Bruce) Ward all of Amboy. Grandchildren, Gini (Tony) Brummond, Nicole (Scott) Kettner Geistfeld, Matthew Black, Rachel (Craig) Hanson, Kami (Caleb) Jordan, Cassie (Joe) Flynn, Trevor, (Amberlea) Ward, Jenn Sandmeyer, Matt Olson. 24 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Brother Jerry Jahnz, sister-in-law Madeline Jahnz and Arlis Black, brother-in-law Alvin Stauffer and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Proceeded in death by her husband Delbert, daughter in law Gail Black, parents Alvin and Helen (Kietzer) Jahnz, brother Waldo Jahnz in infancy, brother Harold Jahnz, in-laws Wilbert and Cora Black.