Darla Upah

DARLA MARIE UPAH

Marshalltown

Darla Marie Upah, 81, of Marshalltown, passed away Saturday, May 20, 2017, at UnityPoint Health in Marshalltown. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 25, at the funeral home. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call

(641) 844-1234.

She was born Jan. 11, 1936, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Edmund Ingenue Hick and Marie Elizabeth Svoboda Hick. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids. On June 20, 1964, Darla was united in marriage to Ronald Vencil Upah at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua.

Darla is survived by her children, Keith and wife Yolanda Short of El Dorado Hills, Calif., and their son, Jordan LeVan; Jeffrey Upah of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Cheryl and husband Dan Goos of Marshalltown and their children, Caitlin and husband Andrew Preston, Tanner Mansager, Cassidy Goos and Lilian Goos. Darla is also survived by her great-grandsons, Asher and Noah; as well as other family and friends.

Darla was known for her love of music and her musical skills, playing the piano, organ, accordion and clarinet. After studying music in college, she played the piano and organ in church for many years while giving private piano lessons to students for over 40 years. She also instilled her love of music into her children, all of whom play one or more instruments.

Darla was also a loving and devoted wife and mother, always placing her family first. She raised three children while working full time at Marshalltown High School, retiring in 2001. Somehow she found time to teach piano lessons, do interior design work to complement her husband's business and look after her family's needs.

She was also renowned for her skills with arts and crafts, crafting intricate, handmade greeting cards that were always eagerly anticipated at holidays and that brought her joy to create and send. She was also known for her huge Santa Claus collection that was noted by an article in the local newspaper.

Darla was available whenever someone needed her help. She was a loyal member of the Red Hat Society and of New Hope Christian Church and she regularly volunteered her time for the Marshalltown Caring Center, New Hope Church and hospice.

Above all, despite her arthritic pain and other medical challenges in later years, Darla never complained and indeed she did everything she could to continue to support and promote the well being of her family. She took great joy in getting to know her two new great-grandchildren and she was filled with pride by her entire family, cherishing every moment she spent with them. She will be greatly missed.

Darla was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald, as well as by parents, Edmund and Marie Hick.