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Hilton, Darlene
Darlene Hilton, 81, of Vinton, died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at the Vinton Lutheran Home following an extended illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home, 1212 First Ave., Vinton, with a rosary service at 10 a.m. The family will arrive at the church shortly before 11 a.m., where the casket will remain closed. Committal services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Westview Cemetery, La Porte City.
Darlene was born March 23, 1931, in rural La Porte City, Iowa, the daughter of Louis Martin and Velma Purdy West. She attended school in Waterloo and graduated from La Porte City High School in 1950. On Sept. 2, 1950, Darlene was united in marriage with Harold J. Hilton in La Porte City. He preceded her in death on June 6, 1991. On Sept. 18, 2004, Darlene married John Thimmesch in Vinton.
Darlene worked at the Vinton Livewire from 1968 until 1977. In the early 1980s, she began working for the La Porte City School District as a secretary, retiring in 1991.
Darlene was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton and the Red Hat Ladies. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, crocheting, fishing and drawing.
Darlene is survived by her husband, John Thimmesch of Vinton; one daughter, Teresa (Randy) Tesdahl of Van Horne; three sons, Daniel (LuAnn) Hilton of Newhall, Steve (Mary) Hilton and Bret Hilton, both of Vinton; seven stepchildren and their spouses, Susan (Russ), Kenny (Karen), Gary (Mary Lou), Jackie (Steve), Karen (Jim), Mike (Deb) and Jim (Tammy); one brother, Louie (Rita) West of Unionville, Mo.; three sisters, Dorothy Halbfass of Evansdale, Shirley (Bill) Jaquith of La Porte City and Diana (Dick) Snyder of Fairbank; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; and one sister, Betty Philips.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or to St. Luke's Hospice.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Darlene and her family.
Condolences may be left at .
Published in The Gazette May 30, 2012.
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