Darlene M. Garner

Darlene M. (Rueckert) Garner, 95, of Marcellus, New York passed away peacefully on June 30th after a brief illness. Born in Westgate, Iowa in 1926, Darlene graduated from West Central High School in Maynard, IA, where she was a proud member of the high school marching band.

She lived on the southern shore of Oneida Lake in Brewerton, New York for sixty years with her husband, Keith. Darlene worked for Deluxe Check Printers for over twenty years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Ina Rueckert of Iowa, her sisters Margie Nauholz of Iowa and Shirley Deering of Georgia, and her beloved husband, Keith.

She is survived by her son Steven (Linda) Garner of Marcellus, her daughter Joanne (John) Brigham of North Syracuse, two granddaughters, Amy Garner and Trista Garner, and three beloved great-grandchildren, Jordan, Brenna and Lucas. She is also survived by step-grandsons through marriage, Todd (Esther) Morey of Syracuse and Brian Morey of Rochester. Darlene was a happy "Gigi" to Neko, Hunter and Carter. She also had three step-grandchildren through marriage: Ned (Mary) Brigham of Massachusetts, Bill (Debbie) Brigham of Massachusetts, and Kim (Allard) van der Heijden of North Carolina, along with their children.

Darlene was involved in many local organizations through the years, including the Brewerton Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, the local New York State Home Bureau chapter, and the Lake Forest Sportsmen Club Auxiliary. She was a long-time member of the Brewerton United Methodist Church, where she was also a member of United Methodist Women. She worked on too many church fundraising events to count. She was especially proud of the popular theme basket auction held there annually, and she loved building the baskets all year long. Darlene also helped run the church kitchen for numerous senior luncheons and church suppers.

She loved to travel. She and Keith wintered in St. Augustine, Florida for many of their retirement years. She and her two sisters had regular reunions in Iowa, and in her later years, she and her youngest sister, Shirley, traveled together to China and all around Europe. Creatively, Darlene was a talented seamstress and porcelain artist. She enjoyed outdoor adventures like snowmobiling in the winter and fishing in the summer.

Calling hours will be July 21, from 1-2PM, with a service to follow. Darlene will be cremated and interred with her husband in a private ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Onondaga Hill. Donations may be made in her name to the kitchen fund at Brewerton United Methodist Church, 5395 Orangeport Rd., Brewerton, NY 13029.

Her family is comforted by the thought of Darlene and Keith together again, drinking Manhattans and watching the sunset over Oneida Lake.