1 week Ago
April 22, 2025 Darlene Alice Ball, 98, of Geneseo, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Hillcrest Home, Geneseo. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Vandemore Funeral Homes and Crematory – Geneseo Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m.
on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo, with a visitation an hour prior to the funeral service beginning. Reverend Stephen Mueller will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.
Memorials may be directed to the Darlene Ball Memorial Fund which will be distributed to local charities. She was born January 1, 1927, in Frederika, Iowa, the beloved daughter of Ewald and Elda (Bergman) Soldwisch. Darlene graduated from high school and furthered her education with a three-year nursing program.
This commitment led to a career as a registered nurse at Lutheran Hospital, Moline and Hammond Henry Hospital, Geneseo, where she specialized in cardiac and intensive care. On May 25, 1947, Darlene married the love of her life, Gene O. Ball, in Waverly, Iowa.
They shared a loving partnership for over 57 years until his passing on June 8, 2004. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she was a devoted member of Concordia Lutheran Church, she found joy in contributing to the church community through potluck dinners and cherished friendships. She created beautiful sewn garments, particularly for children, cooking, dancing, especially the polka, card club, and was a member of the Isaac Walton Club.
Darlene's life was a testament to kindness, hard work, and a deep appreciation for family and community. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Janet (Art) Coppejans of Geneseo, Richard Ball of Bristol, Ind.
, and Robert Ball of Dixon, Ill.; two grandchildren, Andrea (Taylor) Oglesby, and Bradley (Jackie) Ball; and great-grandchildren, Keegan Oglesby and Kayl Oglesby. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Ewald and Elda Soldwisch; husband, Gene Ball; son, Dennis Ball; sisters, Melba Schoonover, Margaret Jurgens, LaDonna Wamsley; and brothers, Vernon Soldwisch and Donald Soldwisch.
Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory 580 E. Ogden Avenue Geneseo, IL 61254 309-944-1415 Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox..
