Darlene D. Refshauge

Darlene Delinda Refshauge, age 89, died Saturday, November 1, 2014, of natural causes. Mrs. Refshauge was born April 2, 1925, in Waverly, Iowa, the daughter of Donald Carlise Diestler and Malinda Nordman Diestler. She attended schools in Waverly, Cedar Falls, and later Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids. She was united in marriage to Lyle R. Refshauge on February 23, 1947 at the First Methodist Church in Cedar Falls. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Donald Gene Diestler. Survivors include: two sons: Thomas (Joyce), of Rogers, Arkansas and Ted of Dike, Iowa; three daughters: Janet (Joe) Miltenberger of Astoria, Oregon, Linda (Gary) Cates of Mesa, Colorado, and Amy Refshauge of Springdale, Arkansas; and three granddaughters, Abigail (Philip) Penning of Cedar Rapids, Hannah (Justin) Smith of Belle Plaine and Rebekah Penning of Mesa, Colorado. Darlene lived in four communities during her lifetime and was an active church member in each. She was baptized and confirmed in Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly. When she married she became a member of First Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School and was a member of the Methodist Women and Couples Club. After a move to Cedar Rapids in 1962, the family joined First Presbyterian Church, where she taught pre-school and Sunday School, and, was a Church Elder, Communion Steward, Wedding Coordinator, Chairman of the Mariner’s Couples Club, and Chairman of the Sewing Circle. A move to Dike in 1978 brought her to the Dike United Methodist Church, where she once more taught Sunday School and Bible School, plus played an active part in the Methodist Women. There were only a very few years when she was not a part of many church committees, especially the mission committee. After moving to Dike in 1978, she joined the Danish Sisterhood, Dike American Legion Auxiliary, and the Homemaker’s Club. She also served as Editor of the Dike section of the Grundy Register for four years. Darlene enjoyed reading, sewing, writing, word games and children. Memorial services will be held at the Dike United Methodist Church on Monday, November 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., with inurnment at Elmwood Cemetery in Dike. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Richardson Funeral Service and also for one hour prior to the service Monday, at the church. Memorials may be given to the Waterloo Salvation Army, the Seeds of Hope program for abused women and children, or Dike United Methodist Church building fund.

Darlene D. Refshauge

April 2, 1925 - November 1, 2014