Darlene Nielsen

Darlene Nielsen, 84, of Fort Dodge passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023, at Trinity Regional Medical Center.  

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 AM at Holy Trinity Church. Burial will be at Corpus Christi Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Sunday, February 26th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Holy Trinity Church.

  Laufersweiler Funeral Home is serving the family.

  Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Hans of Fort Dodge, Debbie Flattery and her husband Dave of Fort Dodge, Susan Hackett and her husband John of Libertyville, IL, son Steve Nielsen and his wife Cynthia of Wescosville, PA, son Mike Nielsen and his wife Desha of West Des Moines, IA, son Dan Nielsen and his wife Jenny of Clive, IA, daughter Jenny Harestad and her husband Joe of Grimes, IA, 19 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

  She was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Rose (Vavrik) Formanek, sister Dorothy (Leo) Nedved of Garner, IA and brothers Leonard (Marie) and Donald (Mary) Formanek of Hayfield, IA. 

  Darlene Rose Formanek was born on November 11, 1938 in Forest City, Iowa, the youngest of four children to Joe and Rose Formanek.  She grew up in Hayfield, Iowa where her parents farmed and later owned and operated the Formanek General Store.  She graduated from Hayfield High School in 1957 where she participated in musicals, plays and girls basketball.  She made it to State in the Free throw competition at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. After graduation she worked at the bank in Garner, Iowa. 

She met the love of her life, Hans Nielsen while dancing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. On June 4, 1959, they were united in marriage at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan, Iowa.  Darlene was proud of her Bohemian heritage.  The Church and Dance Hall in Duncan were favorite family gathering places. The couple established their home in Iowa Falls before settling long term in Fort Dodge in 1963, where they raised six children and built a life based on family, friends and faith.

Darlene’s favorite pastime was attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events and other activities.  She was an ardent St. Edmond Gael supporter and made many great friends while cheering on the Gaels.  Darlene worked at the Book Shelf and Oleson Jewelry for several years where she enjoyed helping others find the right gift. Darlene was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Catholic Daughters of America and Chapter IM PEO.

Memorials may be left to St. Edmond Schools   Ways To Give - St Edmond Catholic School (st-edmond.com) or to Holy Trinity Church   Online Giving - Holy Trinity Parish - Webster County - Fort Dodge, IA (holytrinitywci.org)