Darlene Jeppson

Darlene Joyce (Halweg) Jeppson, 91, of Waverly, NE passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2022, surrounded by her family at the Waverly Care Center in Waverly.  The funeral service will be on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft, NE, with Reverend Nathan Henschen officiating.  The visitation will be on Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft.  Burial will be in the Bancroft Cemetery in Bancroft.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft.

Darlene was born on October 28, 1930, the daughter of Louis and Tena (Kruse) Halweg at Plymouth Township, Merrill, IA.  Darlene was baptized on December 7, 1930, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Johnson Township Iowa.  Darlene was confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig, IA.  While attending LeMars High School, Darlene would live during the week in a boarding house and return home to the farm at Craig, IA on weekends.  In 1949, Darlene graduated from LeMars Iowa High School.  In 1951, Darlene graduated from Comptometer School in Sioux City IA.  Darlene worked for Cudahy’s Meat Packing Company and Sears in Sioux City. 

In 1954, Darlene met the love of her life at a dance in Sioux City, and on February 20, 1955, Ivan Jeppson and Darlene were married at St John Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Craig, IA.  To this union, three children were born Trudy, Nyla, and Alan.

After marriage, Darlene was a farm wife, helping Ivan with the daily livestock chores. For years she raised 500 chickens for hatching eggs and shipped them to a hatchery and still found time to have a delicious meal prepared for the family at supper.  Darlene enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, singing in the church choir, teaching vacation bible school, and playing in the bowling league in Pender. Darlene and Ivan enjoyed square dancing, visiting with friends, and playing pitch with the Jolly Neighbors Card Club. Darlene was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bancroft, NE.  Darlene enjoyed attending her kid's and grandkids' activities and annual vacations with family or friends. For 57 years, Ivan and Darlene attended or hosted the Company F Annual Army Reunion and created life-long friendships.  In 1985, Darlene and Ivan received the Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award. 

In 2019, Darlene and Ivan moved to Waverly, NE to live closer to family.

Darlene is survived by her children, Trudy (Ed) Franssen, of Waverly, NE, Nyla Jeppson, of Lincoln, NE; son, Alan (Kelcey) Jeppson of Hebron, NE; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jordan) Neujahr of Lincoln, NE, Ellis and Ivy Jeppson of Hebron, NE, Chad (Danielle) Franssen of Omaha, NE; great-grandchildren, Sydney and Gavyn Neujahr of Lincoln, NE; brothers-in-law, Norman Jeppson of Wakefield, NE, Dennis (Leann) Jeppson of Wahoo, NE.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan of 65 years; her parents; brother Leonard Halweg; sisters, Dorothy Sorensen, Janet Penning; sisters-in-law, Betty Halweg, Kathleen Jeppson; brothers-in-law, Wally Sorensen, and Daniel Penning.

God blessed me with an Angel, I was proud to call my own.  I’m thankful I was the lucky one to call her….  Mom