Darlene F. Kouba

NORFOLK — Darlene F. Kouba, 74, of Osmond died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. A celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk with inurnment at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Terry Buol will officiate. She was born Feb. 17, 1940, on a farm in the Venus/Lindy area to Henry Sladek and Velna Dorr. Her childhood was spent playing and working on the farm. She attended country school there and later attended high school in Verdigre. The family relocated to the Ewing area where they bought and ran Summerland Dancehall. She then met and married her first husband, Francis Latzel. Two daughters where born to this union, Debra and Marilyn. She and Francis relocated to Killeen, Texas, due to Francis’s enlistment in the U.S. Army. After discharge they relocated to western Nebraska. While there they worked on a ranch. She assisted on the ranches and was a homemaker caring for her two young daughters. Later they relocated to the Norfolk area. Soon after, the marriage ended. Darlene continued living in the Norfolk area, where she met and married James Kouba on May 29, 1969, in Yankton, S.D. Three daughters where born to this union, Tricia, Tammy and Tonya. Darlene’s love and compassion for people led to her career as a nursing assistant. She started her career in nursing at the Norfolk Convalescent Home. She later became employed and worked in the O.B. department at the old Lutheran Hospital. She enjoyed and shared many fond stories of working in the nursery with the babies. After leaving the hospital she worked at the Norfolk Country Club from 1977 to 1985 as head chef in charge of the kitchen. Darlene then worked part time in the kitchen at Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home. She went to college to get a degree as a nutrition specialist. Darlene took early retirement due to health reasons. Shortly after her retirement, she moved to Osmond, where she lived the rest of her life. Her passion was her family. She cherished every moment spent with them, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved cooking meals and expressed her love in this way. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, bird watching and reading. Darlene also enjoyed taking trips, driving in the country, hunting for asparagus and choke cherries. She always knew the best roads to take. She was a member of the United Church of Christ at Pierce. Survivors are daughters Deb and husband Tim Thompson of Osmond, Marilyn Onnen of Marysville, Calif., Tricia and husband Mike Mahan of Norfolk, Tammy Baber of Norfolk, Tonya Ketelsen of Osmond; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; three sisters, Audrey and John Kilcoin of Pierce, Karolen Johnson of Pierce, Janet and Randall Schlueter of Humphrey. She was preceded in death by parents Henry and Velna, stepmother Leona Sladek, husband James, grandson Joshua Hoile, son-in-law Gary Onnen and brother-in-law Kenneth Johnson. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Darlene F. Kouba

February 17, 1940 - November 5, 2014