Stineford, Darlene M.

Darlene M. Stineford, 81, of Marion, formerly of Blairstown, died Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following a courageous battle with cancer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. John Catholic Church in Blairstown, with Father Craig Steimel as celebrant. Interment of cremains will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Her family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Phillips Funeral Home in Blairstown.

A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Mercy.

Darlene was born Dec. 29, 1931, in Lamont to William and Marjorie Lawless Dozark and graduated from Brandon High School with the class of 1950. She then attended Mount Mercy College for two years.

Darlene worked as an elementary teacher in Blairstown for many years. She was also a substitute teacher for the Benton Community School District. After retiring from teaching, Darlene worked a number of years at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana, where she made the best pies, and also worked at the Amana General Store.

On Aug. 14, 1954, she married Willis Stineford at St. John Catholic Church in Blairstown. The couple farmed south of Blairstown for many years, retiring to Marion to be near their grandchildren.

Darlene is survived by her son, Steve M. Stineford of North English and Vicki (Steve) Moshier of Marion; grandchildren, Marcus and Halle Moshier; brother, Edward Dozark of Galveston, Texas; sisters, Ann Agnew of Knoxville, Tenn., Maryjo (Harold) Barker of West Des Moines and Billie Marie (Jim Craig) Dozark of Iowa City; and sister-in-law, Evelyn (Bert) Charlesworth of Grand Junction, Colo.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her in-law parents, Gus and Florence Stineford.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Published Oct. 24, 2013 in The Gazette