Darlene Overleese

FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE LIVED STREAMED ON HUTCHINS FUNERAL HOME FACE BOOK PAGE.

Darlene June Overleese of Franklin, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

She was born at home in the Spring Valley area near Riverton, NE to Alfred and Sarah (Noble) Kugler on June 16, 1938. She was the youngest of 5 children.

She rode her pony to the Spring Valley country grade school. While attending high school in Franklin, she stayed with her older sister Lilah and her husband, Roy Roberts, so she could ride the bus into town. At the time, Lilah and Roy were living in the house that would eventually become Darlene’s future home for 63 years.  She graduated from Franklin High School with the class of 1956.

On May 26, 1956, she married the love of her life, a neighbor boy, Bob Overleese. Darlene and Bob were partners in farming for many years. Darlene’s first priority was being a farm wife and mother to their four children—Pat, Roger, Tom and Mike.

She was a member of the Franklin United Methodist Church. She enjoyed assisting with many activities, committees, and projects. She and Bob were in the original “Sunday Nighters” couples group.

Darlene was very community and school minded. She did not know a stranger and was always eager to welcome new residents to the area. She helped with many 4-H and FFA activities including driving kids to events and being a judge for contests. She was a volunteer for TeamMates. The Farm Safety program was also a project she was very passionate about. If there was a kids’ event, Darlene was there lending a hand.

Part-time jobs that kept her busy were working at: Riverton and Franklin schools as a teacher’s aide, Franklin Co. Extension Office, Hot Stuff Pizza, L & L Variety Store, Farm & Ranch magazine advertising, and Farming magazine advertising. She loved to travel to trade shows with her magazine work.

As we celebrate Darlene’s life, we remember the delicious meals she prepared—not just every day, but also for family holiday celebrations. If anyone was ever at Bob & Darlene’s close to mealtime, they were invited to sit down and eat. There was always more than enough. Some of her specialties were fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cinnamon rolls, and home-made noodles.

Darlene had such a positive attitude throughout her life. Even as her health declined, in her mind she was still 30 years old. She and Bob had to leave the farm late in 2019 and move to Arbor Care in Franklin. Bob passed away March 9, 2020, just before Covid-19 restrictions began.  Her positivity remained even though she was without hugs and indoor visits for many months.

Those left to cherish her memory are: Daughter, Pat (Fernando) Reyes of Grand Island; Sons, Roger (Ann) Overleese of Axtell; Tom (Lisa) Overleese of Republican City; and Mike Overleese and his special friend Carol of Riverton, along with her 4 children and 13 grandchildren.

Grandchildren: Trisha (Jim) Struckhoff, Ginger (Brian) Lester, Pam (Brandon) Johnson, Travis (Amanda) Baetz, Jesse (Veronica) Reyes and David (Tori) Reyes, Chelsea (Toby) Johnson, Ryan (Amanda) Overleese, Eric Overleese (fiancé Emily), Sheana Overleese, Sami (Jake) Bradley, Natalie (Darren) Hein, and Jimmy (Hannah) Sindelar.

34 Great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

Sister, Lilah Roberts; Sister-in-law, Janie Kugler; Brother-in-law, Don (Barb) Overleese.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bob; her parents, Alfred and Sarah Kugler; her father and mother-in-law, Claud and Mae Overleese; brothers, Merlin Kugler and wife, Bertie; Elton Kugler and wife, Gladys, and Gerald Kugler; brother-in-law, Roy Roberts; sister-in-law, Laura Overleese.

Family will be greeting family and friends 6:00pm to 8:00pm Wednesday July 28th at the Methodist Church, 1302 M St, Franklin, NE. Funeral services 10:30am Thursday, July 29th at the United Methodist Church, Franklin. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery,  Franklin. Memorials to the FFA and Teammates of FPS, the Church or Arbor Care Home, Franklin in c/o Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, NE.