During her teaching career, Darlene worked at small, rural schools in southeast Nebraska. Her most notable assignment was teaching at the Freeman School, which is now connected to the Homestead National Monument.
As a teacher, Darlene told her students, “Do what you do with all your might, things done by half are never done right.” Darlene’s passion for education led her to earn a bachelor’s degree and complete graduate course work in Education at the University of Nebraska. She also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Trinity Lutheran Church in DeWitt.
Darlene lived for many years in DeWitt with her husband, Art Rehm, who she married in 1948. Darlene and Art raised two sons in DeWitt, Rodney (Rod) and Gregory (Greg). After Rod and Greg grew up, Art and Darlene traveled to Europe with their close friends, Harley and Marsha Bergmeyer. During that trip, they visited sites connected with Art’s military service during World War 2.
Darlene and Art’s travels continued after retiring and moving to Crete in 1990. They visited all 50 states during the earlier part of their retirement.
Darlene and Art moved to Legacy Estates in Lincoln in 2012 to be closer to their health care providers. During those years, Darlene enjoyed playing cards and using her Lincoln City Library card to borrow electronic books to read on her I-Pad. Darlene was proud of being an “up to date person.”
In Lincoln, Darlene and Art joined Christ Lutheran Church and continued to support of their favorite charity, Orphan Grain Train.
Though her energy faded in her later years, Darlene was always ready to shop at her favorite store, The Vickerage, in Lincoln.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, husband Art, her brother Elvin “Al” Parde, her son Greg and her granddaughter, Anna. She is survived by her son Rod and his wife, Vineta; her daughter-in-law Marilyn Rehm; grandson, Jon and his wife, Abby and granddaughters, Margo and her husband Zach Hamilton and Chelsey and her husband Luke Tyburski. She is also survived by three great-children, Russel Rehm, Abigail Tyburski and Vivian Hamilton.
The family thanks the staff at Legacy Estates for their care of Darlene over the years and their work in making her comfortable in her last days.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on December 19th, 2024 at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street in Lincoln.
Memorials are directed to Orphan Grain Train.