Lynne Wilburn: Darlene was gifted at the piano and often would
go to music contest as accompanying other soloists. She had very good musical
taste. We shared that as early as 7th grade. She was a spirit lifter that always
knew how to make her friends feel good about themselves. She also had excellent
taste in clothes, as she always looked like a model, tall, thin with her long
hair...she was stunning. She always reminded me of Suzy Parker, the super
model of the 50's. She was a loyal member of our Pep club, played in MMHS band
and sang in school musical groups and acting in school plays. I helped at her wedding to her first
husband, Jim Appelgren, and she was a lovely bride. She was to the end, a good friend to
her classmates. If I would use a short to the point profile of our Darlene it
would be loyal, elegant and capable (she could type like the wind and
run every type of business equipment.
I hope to meet you again, you were a toddler when last I saw
you! Your mom called me when Cassidy was born-she was so
thrilled... My heartfelt sympathy to you and your brother and
families.
Norma Bruce: You
mentioned her love of music; yes, she played cornet in the band (4 years) and
went to district contest. Band was a busy, competitive group—played for ball
games and had concerts during the year. She was also in the Girls Chorus
and Mixed Chorus, and you know she played the piano and was the accompanist for
several groups and also for soloists who performed for various events and for
contests. I was in a group called Treble Clef and she was the accompanist—we sang
for things like PTA and assemblies. Your mom was in the school pep club,
called Pepsters (we wore black skirts, white blouses and red long sleeve
sweaters and supported the guys’ teams since Illinois didn’t have competitive
women’s sports). We did get to have some “organized” sports as young women, and
she was in the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) all 4 years. It sticks in my
mind that as freshmen and maybe sophomores we wore horrid pea green baggy
onesies, but graduated to white blouses and navy shorts. Your mom was in
the senior class play, “The Red House Mystery.” Her thespian talents were also
used for school assemblies where students did little sketches about school
happenings. I recall she was a very good, honor roll student, and she put
some skills to use working on the Hilltopper, our school newspaper we all
eagerly read when it came out. Then there was the unofficial activities
like stuffing millions of napkins into chicken wire for our class Homecoming
floats in freezing weather, and drinking a gazillion chocolate and cherry cokes
at the local drug store after school with other screeching, giggling girls.
I remember your mom
as a young girl—tall, graceful, slender, thoughtful and often sober as she
pondered life’s problems, and. . . perhaps important then. . . with style and
flair. It’s sort of a silly memory, but when we were in 7th or 8th
grade, long dangling necklaces came into style, and she was one of the first to
wear them! I’m sure I had a bit of envy which is why I remember it.
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(Finch Funeral Home, Mt. Morris) Rockford, IL, Darlene Nelson, age 78, Nee: Holverson, passed away at Swedish American Hospital on September 3, 2017 after a brief illness.----------------------------------------------------------
Darlene grew up in Mt. Morris, IL and was a proud and beloved graduate of the Mt. Morris High School Class of 1957. Classmates describe Darlene as uplifting, loyal, and elegant. She had a love of music that she expressed over a lifetime through multiple bands, piano accompaniment, teaching piano, church choirs, bell choirs, and ushering at the Mendelssohn Center. Part of her adult life was spent in Lake County, IL and she eventually returned to the Rockford area. Darlene’s family will miss her and is thankful for the friends and family who helped her during some difficult times.
Darlene is survived by her children: Jon Appelgren, Rockford, IL; Kathy (Troy) Blair, Gurnee, IL; grandchildren: Cassidy (Daniel) Gerber, Jersey City, NJ; and Kevin Blair, Chicago, IL.
Darlene is preceded in death by her parents: Harold “Slim” and Bertha Holverson; and son: Michael Appelgren.
Memorial service was held Friday, September 8, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. in The Disciples United Methodist Church in Mt. Morris, IL. She was buried in Franklin Grove Cemetery, Franklin Grove, IL. Visitation was held Friday September 8, 2017 from 11:00 A.M. until service time in the church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Darlene’s name to a charity of your choosing.
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| Can you spot Darlene? Front row center, white shorts, hands on knees |
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