Darlene Bohlin

Date of Birth

Feb 06,1931

Date of Death

Nov 19,2018

Darlene Bohlin, age 87, of Elgin, passed away Monday, November 19, 2018, with the love and prayers of her family.
Darlene was born on February 6, 1931, in Geneva, IL, to proud parents Carl “Elmer” and Hazel (Johnson) Ekstrom. The family lived on the family farm in Wasco where Darlene helped with the daily chores. She attended Wasco schools and then graduated from St. Charles High School with the class of 1949. After graduation, she worked for a number of years in the payroll department at Hawley’s Manufacturing in St. Charles.
Darlene met Russell Bohlin at a dear friend, Margaret Swanson’s wedding. In that brief first meeting they could already hear the wedding bells ringing. Russell played baseball with Darlene’s brother which gave them many more opportunities to get to know each other. Their courtship lasted for four years during which Russell was away serving his country in the military. Darlene and Russell were united in marriage on September 27, 1958. They made their home on Russell’s family farm and once there Darlene gave up her job at Hawley’s to become a fulltime homemaker. After two years, they welcomed their first child and had two more children to fill their home.
Darlene was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lily Lake where she was the secretary for the Sunday School and taught for many years. She was a member of many women’s groups where she helped with countless things including serving as the head of the funeral committee for a time. She also served on the 100th Anniversary committee and was part of the Roadrunner’s group.
Darlene was a hard worker and one of the first to volunteer; she was always busy making something for her family or the church. There were always cookies in the kitchen for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she loved the cookies as much as they did. In fact, in her later years, Darlene was known as the “cookie monster.”
On the farm, Darlene made “runs for parts” and at noontime spread a “table” on the bed of the truck with a meal “fit for a king” to feed the men that were working in the fields. From the plentiful casseroles to jiggly jello, Darlene made sure everyone was well taken care of and well fed. She not only made sure the farm help was fed but was a great hostess to all who came to visit their home. Whether it was friends or her grandchildren, all of them lit up her life with love and lots of fun.
Darlene made sure everyone was well taken care of for her family and friends were everything to her. She cared deeply for all of those in her life and will forever be in their hearts; never forgotten.
Darlene is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Russell Bohlin; three children: Kevin (Pam) Bohlin, Greg (Cassy) Bohlin and Laurie (Gary) Weese; seven grandchildren: Amanda (Larry), Ashley (Kyle), Michael, Andrea, Dalton, Sydney, and Coulter; three great-grandchildren: Chloe, Donald, and Annabelle; one brother, Carl Ekstrom; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Hazel Ekstrom and one brother, Wayne Ekstrom.
Her visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018, from 3-7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175. Visitation will resume at the church on Saturday, November 24th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with a service to celebrate her life at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Lily Lake, 5N600 Hanson Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175. Tributes may be forwarded to Conley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will resume at the church on Saturday, November 24th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with a service to celebrate her life at 10:30 a.m.

Her visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018, from 3-7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175.

Interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

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