Darlene Ann Nelson

Darlene Ann Nelson, 88, of Cedar Falls, passed away at UPH/Allen Hospital on Sunday, April 27, 2025. She was born in Waterloo, Iowa, August 2, 1936, daughter of Maxwell and Laura (Roop) Burns. Darlene graduated from Mason City High School in 1955, then attended Hamilton Business College. She married Tenny Hanson, Jr. in Elkader in March of 1954, and the couple had one daughter together before divorcing. Darlene married Bruce L. Bliton in Mason City in September of 1961, and they added two sons to the family. Bruce died in August of 1994. She then, married Justin L. Nelson in August of 1998, and he preceded her in death in September of 2016. Darlene worked various jobs, though her longest tenure was in Waterloo as a medical data entry assistant, retiring multiple times but she was finally, "successful" in 2001.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; and a son, Dan Paul. She is survived by her children: Susan (David) Klousia of Mason City and Mark Bliton of Torrance, California; a step-son, Nysha O. (Edward Cooper) Nelson of Somerville, Tennessee; and a granddaughter, Elizabeth (Jacob McLaughlin) Klousia of Mason City; and her beloved orange tabby cat, Slater.

Darlene's family will host a Celebration of Life on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home with an informal time of visitation from 4 – 6:00 pm and a Funeral Service beginning at 6:00 pm. Per her wishes, she will be cremated following the service and her ashes will be inurned at Oakland Cemetery of Janesville, Iowa, next to her second husband, Bruce. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to C & W Rustic Hollow Cat Sanctuary of Nashua , Nazareth Lutheran Church or the Cedar Falls Municipal Band .

Darlene loved her family, friends and neighbors. She enjoyed gardening and was a lover of all animals. She was a faithful fan of the NCIS television series and devotedly watched her Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubbies. Darlene was incredibly strong in her faith despite a life that was filled with challenges including breast cancer, heart attacks and multiple strokes. She was a long-term member of Nazareth Lutheran, having joined in 1973 with Bruce when they moved to Cedar Falls and participated in circles, bible studies and the prayer chain. Darlene was able to remain in her own home until the end of her life, which was very important to her.