Darlene Jane (Harty) Roozen

Darlene Jane Harty, age 86, passed away on Friday, August 17, 2018, in St. Paul, MN where she lived the last 7 years of her life, but Iowa Falls was always “home.”  Darlene was born December 29, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Earl and Bessie Harty.  Darlene graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1950.  She soon met the love of her life, Bob Roozen, and married him on July 19, 1952.

Darlene and Bob shared a life of love, having an enviable marriage that always included a lot of hugs and kisses.  Their married life began in Iowa Falls, which was followed by a move to Parkersburg, Iowa.  For a short time, the family lived in Hampton, but in 1962, Darlene and Bob returned home to Iowa Falls.  In 2011, Darlene moved to St. Paul, Minnesota to be near her daughters.

Darlene spent many years working in the Iowa Falls school district as a secretary, first at Central and later at West School.  But her biggest achievement was raising her 4 daughters, Kathy, Judy, Jan and Robbie, and providing an idyllic family life for them.  Homemade bread and cinnamon rolls were a staple for Bob and the girls thanks to Darlene.

In addition to baking, Darlene enjoyed traveling with her family, especially to Leech Lake, Minnesota on fishing trips in her younger days.  When the kids were grown, Darlene spent many winters in Arizona with Bob, though they never left before Harty Thanksgivings at Edgewood and Christmases spent with their girls.  Trips to the casino and playing bingo anywhere were other loves of Darlene’s.  Going to baseball games, whether Little League or her beloved Twins, was one of her all-time favorite activities.  Her TV was usually tuned to football or baseball when she was home.  But having coffee with good friends and doing anything at all with family were certainly her favorite things to do.

Darlene is survived by three daughters, Kathy Sabota and husband Ken of Maplewood, Minnesota and their sons Bobby and Jesse, Judy Roozen and son Miles of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Robbie Roozen of White Bear Lake, Minnesota and her son Zachary of Los Angeles, California; one sister, Patricia Evans of Torrance, California; several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Roozen, daughter Janet Pomeroy and infant daughter Jane, infant son Joseph, and five sisters and three brothers.

As a mother, grandma, sister and friend, Darlene was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.  Thank you for being part of her life.  We were blessed to have her in our lives for so long.  You are back home, Mom.

A Funeral Mass for Darlene will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Iowa Falls with Father Kevin Earleywine officiating. A Scripture service will be at 4:30 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 at Linn’s Funeral Home.

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