Darlene L. Willms

Darlene LaVerne Willms, age 95, of Grundy Center, formerly of Dike, passed away at Creekside Living on September 26, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Liberty Baptist Church in Dike with visitation prior from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Elmwood Cemetery in Dike. Lunch will be provided at the church after the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family in care of Abels Funeral Home, 509 4th Street, Grundy Center, IA 50638 for future designation in Darlene’s honor.

Darlene was born August 27, 1931, on the family farm near Grundy Center to her parents, Frank and Emma (Dirks) Weseman. She attended rural school and graduated from Grundy Center High School with the class of 1949. After graduation, she was employed at Grundy National Bank for nine years. On April 20, 1956, she was united in marriage to Elmer Willms at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. They made their home in the Dike area for most of their married life. She helped her husband Elmer with his trucking business by taking calls and serving as his bookkeeper. She spent most of her time raising their three children: Marcia, Lori, and Tim.

Darlene enjoyed taking family trips and later traveling to visit family in New Jersey and Colorado. She also enjoyed music, playing the piano at church and for family, reading, attending her children’s activities, and watching sports with her husband.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Reinbeck for over thirty years and enjoyed teaching, music, and Ladies Missionary. She later became a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dike.

She was thankful God blessed her and Elmer with 62 years together.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Willms, daughter Marcyne Willms, grandson Joseph Willms, son-in-law Michael Welsh, three sisters, one brother, and many sisters- and brothers-in-law.

She is survived by daughters Marcia Willms of Grundy Center and Lori Welsh of Deptford, New Jersey; son Tim (Sharon) Willms of Loveland, Colorado; granddaughters Danielle Willms, Cat (Kurt) Schultz, and Rachel (Luke) Vaporis; great grandchildren Joey, Frankie, and Georgia Schultz, and Schaefer and Finn Vaporis; sisters- and brothers-in-law Gloria Willms, Chuck Smoldt, Don and JoAnn Willms, Dean and Mary Willms, and many nieces and nephews.