Darlene Kirby, 88, of Oskaloosa and formerly of Delta, died Friday, July 10, 2020 at the Oskaloosa Care Center. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Monday, July 13, 2020 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. The funeral may be viewed live on the Holland-Coble Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery at Oskaloosa. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2020 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the What Cheer United Methodist Church.

Darlene Marie Kirby was born August 9, 1931 in Webster, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Bernice Allen Kitzman. She was a 1948 graduate of Thornburg High School. Darlene was united in marriage to Marvin Martin Kirby on February 17, 1951 at The Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, Iowa. She began working at the telephone company in Oskaloosa while Marvin was deployed during the Korean War. Each month Marvin sent his pay check back to the United States for Darlene to save. After his honorable discharge in 1952 the couple had saved enough money to purchase their first farm south west of What Cheer. Darlene worked as a proud mother and farm wife most of her life. She also worked as a dietician for Tri-County High School for many years and she was very well known for making the best birthday and anniversary cakes. Darlene was also known to have made countless bags of noodles from all the egg yolks she separated for her cakes. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting and attending Bible Brunch and helping with funeral luncheons. Darlene was a member of the What Cheer United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Mary's Circle, The Red Hat Club and UMW. She will be remembered for giving so much to so many, and asking for nothing in return.

Darlene is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marvin Kirby; two brothers, Edward and Vernon Kitzman; and her two sister, Hazel Malin and Dorothy Adams.

She is survived by a daughter, Marcia Peitzman of Novi, MI; two sons, Michael (Shelley) Kirby of Oskaloosa and Scott (Lisa) Kirby of Ottumwa. Darlene also leaves behind six grandchildren: Matt Peitzman, Beth Peitzman, Ryan Kirby, Morgan Kirby, Megan Dunton, and Kristin Van Zee; also, her two great-grandchildren, Trenton and Austin Van Zee.