ASK, Darlene (Barrows) 1934-2016

ASK, BARROWS, ANDERSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/25/2016 at 18:05:34

Darlene Ask

Died April 25, 2016

On Monday, April 25, 2016, surrounded by her loving family, Darlene Ask went to meet her Heavenly Father on the wings of precious angels which she so deeply loved throughout her life. Darlene, age 81, passed away at Mitchell County Regional Health Center Hospice Unit in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2016, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage with Pastor Alan Schulz officiating. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery at St. Ansgar. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Darlene’s life journey began in Austin, Minnesota, June 17, 1934, born to Donald and Louise (Anderson) Barrows. She lived on a farm north of Adams, and graduated high school as an Elkton Upstreamer in 1952. Shortly after graduation, on a “girl’s night out” at an Albert Lea roller rink, she met her “other half”. During the “Ladies Choice Skate”, Darlene rolled over and literally crashed into a handsome Iowa farmer, Stanley Ask. The young couple courted over the state lines, and were united in marriage on August 1, 1953, at Little Cedar Lutheran Church, Adams, Minnesota, in a candlelight ceremony provided by Mother Nature’s storm and no electricity.

They made their home on a farm near St. Ansgar, where Darlene took pride in being a supportive farmwife, growing a huge garden, putting on a feast for kids and farm helpers, and steering clear of sorting pigs.

Darlene showed her talents in many ways too numerous to count. Her spirit of loving and giving was obvious in every stocking cap, scarf, mittens or afghan she knitted or crocheted. Grandchildren recall many a costume or outfit Darlene would “quick sew up” for an event or program. They treasure their personal Cabbage Patch Dolls that Grandma made in their likeness, and remember with amusement the times they would tease Grandma and she would jokingly say, “Oh, stuff it up your nose!” Only Grandma Ask was able to make those special Rice Krispies treats with peanut butter frosting and lavished a treat called “GORP” on family and friends.

Darlene’s caring extended beyond family. For 35 years, she was blessed to have been a member of a 12-Step program that brought her great peace and even more friends. She loved to craft, taught knitting, and quilted with many. Darlene enjoyed promoting pork as an Iowa Porkette, sewing pigskin vests and outfits, and grilling pork burgers. She was a frequent volunteer as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and while working at Good Samaritan Nursing Home.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley Ask of Osage; children, Janice (Warren) Marsh of Bahia, Ecuador, Wayne (Sheryl) Ask of Rosehill, Iowa, and Pam (Joe) Marzen of Stacyville; grandchildren, Paul Tynan, Rudy Ask, Mandy (Ask) Murphy, Amy (Ask) McNeal, Nicholas Marzen, Lucas Marzen, Katie (Marzen) Schell, Leigh Marzen, and many wonderful great-grandchildren. She is also survived by fun sisters, Betty Boysen and Connie Johnson, and sister-in-law, LaVonne Barrows.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Louise Barrows; brothers, Stanley and Richard Barrows; and sister-in-law, Ethel Nerison.

Darlene treasured “good old-fashioned neighboring”, be it a shared cup of coffee at the kitchen table, shopping with the gals, or playing her favorite game, “Aggravation”! So we say, just as Darlene ended every message... “Goodbye, we love you, and drive carefully”.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home (641)732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website