Darlene Monroe was born in Toledo Iowa to Helen and Joseph Pecenka on August 30, 1928. She spent her early years on the family farm and attended Howard #1 and Perry #6. At 7th grade she enrolled in Traer Community School, graduating in the class of 1945. In 1946 she enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College and began in the home economics program. She was elected to Theta Theta Epsilon Home Economic Honor Fraternity and also belonged Ellen H Richards group of home economics students. She graduated from ISTC in 1950 and was hired to teach home economics and typing at Denver High School in Denver Iowa. She married Guy (Murray) Monroe on June 17, 1952 and continued to teach in Denver for two years while they were making their home in Denver. In 1955, the Monroe’s moved to Traer and Darlene taught at Chelsea High school for the school year. In 1956 Darlene taught at Geneseo high school and the Monroe’s moved to Janesville. In 1957, the Monroe’s were farming near Denver, and Darlene had quit teaching to become a full time Mom.

After a barn fire in Denver, Darlene returned to teaching at Geneseo and the Monroe’s made their home south of Waterloo. In 1961, Murray and Darlene moved to a farm in rural Clutier, where they farmed and Darlene continued to teach school in Geneseo, then Dysart Geneseo, and finally the Union school district. Darlene taught high school economics, high school business, middle school home economics, and middle school keyboarding. While living on the farm, Darlene helped on the farm after school. Darlene retired from teaching in 1993 and took up her favorite hobbies full time, quilting and gardening, even working at local quilt shops in Cedar Falls and Amana.

Darlene is survived by her husband Murray, now of North Liberty, her daughter Becky and (Mike Palmer) of North Liberty, her favorite granddog, Misty, and a sister-in-law Dorothy Pecenka of Traer. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held on September 8 at 1pm at Christ United Methodist church in Belle Plaine. Internment immediately following at Ridgewood cemetery in North Liberty. Visitation is after the service on September 8 from 3-6pm at Becky/Mike’s home in North Liberty.

Darlene Monroe, 85

Darlene Monroe was born in Toledo Iowa to Helen and Joseph Pecenka on August 30, 1928. She spent her early years on the family farm and attended Howard #1 and Perry #6. At 7th grade she enrolled in Traer Community School, graduating in the class of 1945. In 1946 she enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College and began in the home economics program. She was elected to Theta Theta Epsilon Home Economic Honor Fraternity and also belonged Ellen H Richards group of home economics students. She graduated from ISTC in 1950 and was hired to teach home economics and typing at Denver High School in Denver Iowa. She married Guy (Murray) Monroe on June 17, 1952 and continued to teach in Denver for two years while they were making their home in Denver. In 1955, the Monroe’s moved to Traer and Darlene taught at Chelsea High school for the school year. In 1956 Darlene taught at Geneseo high school and the Monroe’s moved to Janesville. In 1957, the Monroe’s were farming near Denver, and Darlene had quit teaching to become a full time Mom.

After a barn fire in Denver, Darlene returned to teaching at Geneseo and the Monroe’s made their home south of Waterloo. In 1961, Murray and Darlene moved to a farm in rural Clutier, where they farmed and Darlene continued to teach school in Geneseo, then Dysart Geneseo, and finally the Union school district. Darlene taught high school economics, high school business, middle school home economics, and middle school keyboarding. While living on the farm, Darlene helped on the farm after school. Darlene retired from teaching in 1993 and took up her favorite hobbies full time, quilting and gardening, even working at local quilt shops in Cedar Falls and Amana.

Darlene is survived by her husband Murray, now of North Liberty, her daughter Becky and (Mike Palmer) of North Liberty, her favorite granddog, Misty, and a sister-in-law Dorothy Pecenka of Traer. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held on September 8 at 1pm at Christ United Methodist church in Belle Plaine. Internment immediately following at Ridgewood cemetery in North Liberty. Visitation is after the service on September 8 from 3-6pm at Becky/Mike’s home in North Liberty.