Darlene Augusta Wolter

Darlene Augusta Wolter, age 98, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family, on September 11, 2024. She had been a resident of Dane County, Wisconsin, for the past 20 years.

Darlene was born on November 18, 1925, to Hertha and Cecil Piere, in Norfolk, Nebraska, but spent the majority of her childhood in Fremont, graduating from Fremont High School in 1943. During those years she became friends with six local girls, who would remain close for the rest of their lives, despite living in locations all across America. Among the “Silly Seven,” as they referred to themselves, Darlene would outlive all but one of these dear friends. The girls all worked at Fremont’s two movie theaters during their high school years—and the photograph of Darlene featured here shows her in the theater uniform that was designed by her seamstress mother. Darlene always loved reminiscing about her years growing up with these friends, recounting stories about the Silly Seven even until the final weeks of her life. As a young girl, Darlene hated piano lessons, but she loved dancing, and she became quite an accomplished tap dancer by her teenage years.

After high school, Darlene moved to San Diego, where she lived with relatives, and worked in a civil service position in the U.S. Naval Hospital for the remainder of World War II. San Diego was one of the favorite places where Darlene would live—and she lived many places, including eight states in three different time zones, as well as Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where she lived with her husband, Gerald, in the early 1980s.

Darlene married Gerald Wolter on July 6, 1957. Together they raised three children, enjoyed family vacations, playing bridge with friends, holiday gatherings of friends and family, and attending Husker football games—which they did together for over five decades. Even in the last year of her life she was looking forward to the next Husker football season (with optimism!). Darlene and Gerald were lifelong members of the Lutheran Church.

Although Darlene would hold several clerical and retail jobs throughout her working life, her greatest joy came from having a family. She was a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother, and above all, she was kind. Living as she did, she set an example for all her family as to the rules of civility. She was a beautiful person.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband of 51 years, Gerald, who died in 2009. She is survived by her daughter Sally Edmunds and husband David, daughter Elizabeth Ingebretson, son Stephen and wife Syndi Dobson, and numerous cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Darlene’s family would like to thank the nurses, social workers, and CNAs of Agrace Hospice, including Payton and Rose, and the nurses and social workers of My Choice Wisconsin, for all the care these individuals and organizations provided Darlene at various times in the final years of her life. 

Honoring Darlene’s wishes, there will be no funeral. And that’s fine. A funeral isn’t necessary—she is already tap dancing in Heaven.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

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