Darlene Mae Neel 1926-2006

CARLSON, BARKER, NEEL

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 11/1/2006 at 08:18:15

Darlene Mae (Barker) Neel, 79, of Iowa City died Sunday October 29, 2006 at Oaknoll Retirement Residence following a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M Saturday November 4, 2006 at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Rev. Paul Akin will officiate. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions to Iowa City Hospice, 1025 Wade Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 or The Art Guild of Burlington, P.O. Box 5, Burlington, IA 52601.

Darlene was born on December 19, 1926 in Essex, IA to Forest and Elsie Carlson Barker. Darlene was a 1944 Iowa City High School graduate, earning a psychology degree from the University of Iowa in 1948. She was elected Worthy Advisor of Rainbow Girls, and belonged to Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She married Jack Neel in 1948, moving to Grand Junction, Iowa. They returned to Iowa City for her husband's dental school, then made their home in Burlington, Iowa for 34 years. Recently she and her husband retired in Iowa City.

Darlene was a devoted mother and wife. Her activities centered around her family. She was an accomplished artist, working on canvas (oils and acrylics), paper (charcoal & water colors), and in glass, ceramics, & metals. Additionally, she also was an avid gardener, gourmet cook, and played the piano. She loved to travel.

Darlene was an member of the Art Guild of Burlington, the Stained Glass Club, Starr's Cave Nature Center of Burlington, King's Daughters, and Questor's Club. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church.

Darlene is survived by her husband Jack of Iowa City, four children; Cindy Schoel (Randy) of Harker Heights, TX, Sandy Sandrock (Todd) of Grand Blanc, MI, Debbie Kissner of Iowa City, IA, Todd Neel (Carol) of Coralville, IA, nine grandchildren; J.C. Schoel (Jenny), Stephanie Schoel, Jennifer, David, Eric, and Jacob Sandrock, Jessica Kissner, Alex and Hannah Neel, a great granddaughter Addison Schoel, a brother Robert G. Barker (Carol) of Iowa City, IA, a brother-in-law John Oehrle of Palm Springs, CA and several nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Evelyn Oehrle.

On-line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com