Darline Spears' Obituary
Darline Johannsen Spears, daughter of George L. Johannsen and Elfrieda Koeppen Johannsen, peacefully passed away Wednesday morning, February 4, 2015, at Helia Hillside Healthcare in Yorkville, IL.
Darline was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 14, 1924. She was raised in Clinton, Iowa, graduating from Clinton High School in 1942. Darline married Sam Spears on November 7, 1954 in Clinton. Darline worked for many years at the Burpee Seed Company in Clinton, and for Clinton’s Chamber of Commerce. Darline was a very active member of Clinton’s St. Paul Lutheran Church, having served on its council, and as treasurer.
Darline reveled in watching her family navigate & enjoy their lives; her kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren, while looking forward to family reunions with her family as they returned to quaint Preston, Iowa, often to enjoy a game of cards, and always found the best in everyone and in all situations. She was preceded in death by her husband Sam, her father George, her mother Elfrieda, her brother Les Johannsen and her sister Gladys Holle.
Darline is survived by two children, daughter Susan Vittetoe of Grand Junction, Colorado, and her son, Greg (Ann), of Oswego, Illinois, four grandchildren, Andy Vittetoe of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sarah (Taran) Evans of Grand Junction, Colorado, Sam Spears of Oswego, Illinois and Mitch Spears of Oswego, Illinois, and great-grandchild Charlie Evans of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Funeral Services will be 10:00am, Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Follwing the burial a luncheon will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00-7:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Darline’s memory to Clinton’s St. Paul Lutheran Church or Faith Lutheran Church of Aurora, IL.
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