Darlene Calhoun
January 26, 1935 — March 28, 2021
Joy “Darlene” (Harkin) Calhoun was born on January 26, 1935 in Pleasantville, Iowa and passed away on March 28, 2021 at Vintage Hills in Indianola. She was the daughter of Owen and Veva (Shoemaker) Harkin. Darlene had an older brother, Dale Harkin of Overland Park, KS and a younger sister, Carolyn Brus who passed away in 1997. Darlene graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1954 and went on to marry the love of her life, James Calhoun, on August 20, 1955 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were happily married for 55 years. They had two children: James Michael Calhoun and Shelley Lynn DeForest both of Pleasantville. Shortly after they were married, they moved to San Diego, CA where James enlisted in the Navy for four years then returned to Pleasantville in 1959. Darlene worked as a bookkeeper for Agan Ford in Knoxville and Heaberlin’s Service in Pleasantville then went on to work for Herschel Manufacturing in Indianola for 15 years where she retired from in 1993.
She enjoyed boating, camping and riding motorcycles with friends and family, traveling to Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, canning green beans, pickles, tomato juice and salsa with James, spoiling the grandchildren and loved to visit with anybody especially during her shopping trips at Wal Mart, Fareway or HyVee. Her grandchildren would tell you that she made the best homemade noodles ever. However, her overall passion was watching the grandkid’s activities, whether it was football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball or dance along with telling them how great they did. Up until last year, Darlene was still mowing her yard, attending athletic events to watch her grandson coach and attending her great grandchildren’s school activity events. She was always appreciative of everything people did for her along with apologizing for being a burden after they did something to help her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Owen & Veva Harkin; husband, James; sister, Carolyn Brus; and grandson, James “Ryan” Calhoun.
Those left to cherish her loving memories include her son, Mike; daughter, Shelley (David) DeForest; grandchildren: Cody (Dani) DeForest, Heath (Meghan) DeForest, Cami (James) Kay and Courtney (Alex) Heaberlin; great grandchildren: Taya, Easton, Leilani, Sophia, Amaya, Merik, Gideon and Emery; brother, Dale Harkin; sister-in-law, Donna Maddy; brother-in-law, Danny (Ruth Ann) Calhoun; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.
A funeral service for Darlene Calhoun, age 86 of Pleasantville, will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Swan Cemetery. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Vintage Hills Memory Care, Suncrest Home Health and Hospice or to the Pleasantville Booster Club.
She enjoyed boating, camping and riding motorcycles with friends and family, traveling to Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, canning green beans, pickles, tomato juice and salsa with James, spoiling the grandchildren and loved to visit with anybody especially during her shopping trips at Wal Mart, Fareway or HyVee. Her grandchildren would tell you that she made the best homemade noodles ever. However, her overall passion was watching the grandkid’s activities, whether it was football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball or dance along with telling them how great they did. Up until last year, Darlene was still mowing her yard, attending athletic events to watch her grandson coach and attending her great grandchildren’s school activity events. She was always appreciative of everything people did for her along with apologizing for being a burden after they did something to help her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Owen & Veva Harkin; husband, James; sister, Carolyn Brus; and grandson, James “Ryan” Calhoun.
Those left to cherish her loving memories include her son, Mike; daughter, Shelley (David) DeForest; grandchildren: Cody (Dani) DeForest, Heath (Meghan) DeForest, Cami (James) Kay and Courtney (Alex) Heaberlin; great grandchildren: Taya, Easton, Leilani, Sophia, Amaya, Merik, Gideon and Emery; brother, Dale Harkin; sister-in-law, Donna Maddy; brother-in-law, Danny (Ruth Ann) Calhoun; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.
A funeral service for Darlene Calhoun, age 86 of Pleasantville, will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Swan Cemetery. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Vintage Hills Memory Care, Suncrest Home Health and Hospice or to the Pleasantville Booster Club.
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