Darlene J. Waino

Darlene Jane Waino, age 79, of Iron River, MI, passed away Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Iron River Care Center. Darlene was born on April 19, 1935 in Iron River Township, MI, the daughter of the late Emil and Wilma (Hawkins) Dams. She attended the Iron River and West Iron County Schools and completed a Correspondence Class in Child Development from the University of Illinois in Champagne. She also attended Bay de Noc College in Escanaba, graduating in 1990. On January 10, 1953, Darlene married Theodore Waino in Beechwood. She was employed as a secretary-receptionist for Dr. King and later, Dr. Ivory; worked at Coleman Products from 1982 until its closure in 1986. She was also a teacher's aide at the West Iron County Schools for Kindergartner Classes and worked for Northern R.V. in Quinnesec, retiring in 1990. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, baking, feeding and watching the deer, attending craft shows, and was a good cribbage player. Darlene also enjoyed watching football and was an avid Packer fan. She also like to volunteer and always had entries in the Fair. Darlene especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore in 1973, daughter Jayne Swanson in 2003, sister, Janice Ahonen and brothers, Donald, Jerome, and Kenneth Dams. She is survived by her sons, David (Anita) Waino of Denmark, WI and Bruce Waino of Iron River; daughter, Lois (Glenn) Heikkila of Iron River; six grandchildren, Heather (Dan) Bengry-Splitt, Erin Bengry, Chelsea (Kenny) Swanson, Nikki (Eddie) Puckett, Richelle (Ryan) Waligursky and Ashley Heikkila; ten great grandchildren, Izaya, Izabella, Brayden, Austin, Dylan, Madilyn, Rueben, Peyton, Morgan, and Bentley; many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor James Swanson II to officiate. Interment will be in Resthaven Cemetery, Iron River, in the spring. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Darlene J. Waino, please visit our flower store.