Darlene Kuhlers

Darlene Kuhlers, 92, formerly of Clear Lake, Iowa, passed away on April 30, 2026 at Stoney Brook Assisted Living in West Union, Iowa where she had been a resident for the last 12 years.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 Second Ave. North, Clear Lake, Iowa, with Pastor Luke Evans officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.  Should friends desire, memorials may be left to the family in Darlene’s name.

Darlene Vanderhoef was born January 3, 1934, at home in rural Floyd County, Iowa to Floyd and Hilda (Nuehring) Vanderhoef. She graduated from Colwell Consolidated School in 1952.  After high school, she worked at Osco Drug Store & in later years at the Clear Lake Jr. High cafeteria and also food service in the Kissimmee, Florida school system.

On February 5, 1954, Darlene was united in marriage to Duane Kuhlers at Wesley United Methodist Church in Mason City, Iowa. To this union, four children were born: Debra, Douglas, Dennis, and Delmar. While Duane worked for Ozark Airlines & TWA they lived in Kansas City, Mason City, and Kissimmee, FL. They shared 60 years of marriage filled with traveling, golfing, wintering in Dauphin Island, Alabama and most importantly, time spent with their children and grandchildren.  Darlene enjoyed flower & vegetable gardening, baking & listening to country music.  

Duane & Darlene traveled extensively, visiting Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Panama Canal, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and many areas in the United States. She was a faithful member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church & previously a member of the Ruth Circle.

Darlene is survived by her children: Debra (Tom) Luhman of West Union, IA; Douglas Kuhlers of Omaha, NE; Dennis (Pat) Kuhlers of  Des Moines, IA; and Delmar (Jane) Kuhlers of Muscatine, IA; grandchildren: Adam (Nikki) Luhman, Amber (Matt) Keppler, Measa (Mark) Tomforde, Megan (David) Hintz, Brianna Kuhlers, Bryce Kuhlers, Brent (Alexia Martinez) Kuhlers, Steven Kuhlers, and Stefi Kuhlers; great-grandchildren: Ava, Isabel, Jackson, Cael, Grant, Lleyton, Hadlee, Mason, Maribel and Sayer; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Darlene had a deep pride in her family.  Her legacy of love, laughter & care lives on in the hearts of those who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane in 2014; mother, Hilda Hodge; her father, Floyd Vanderhoef; Sister, Betty Scharnhorst, sister-in-law, Magdalene Dirks; brothers-in-law, Henry and Alvin Kuhlers.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave North Clear Lake, Iowa 50428. 641-357-2193.  www.colonialchapels.com