1933-2020
Darlene Claire (Forsythe) Manley, 86 of Stanley went to be with her precious Lord and Savior on March 28, 2020. She was born on October 25, 1933 in Madison, WI the daughter of the late David and Elva (Lucht) Forsythe. She graduated from Eau Claire Senior High in 1951 and attended Luther Hospital School of Nursing and UW Eau Claire. Darlene was the bookkeeper for the Stanley-Boyd Area School District for 21 years and also was the Secretary of the S-B Board of Education. She also enjoyed being the Secretary of Trinity Christian Fellowship for 20 years.
On March 13, 1954 Darlene married Donald L. Manley at the First Congregational Church in Eau Claire. The couple moved to Stanley where they were 3rd generation owners of the Manley family farm. In 1955, Don enlisted in the US Air Force and received training as a jet mechanic in Amarillo, Texas. Darlene joined him there and then they moved to Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts where Don was stationed at Westover Air Force base for 3 ½ years. Darlene worked during that time for J.C. Tarbell Associates in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. They took many trips during that time they lived in the east and enjoyed being in Boston, New York City, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington D.C. and Florida. Their favorite vacation spot was Cape Cod where they spent many wonderful days enjoying the Atlantic Ocean and that historic area. Don was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1959 and they returned to Wisconsin.
Darlene was very involved in her church, Trinity Christian Fellowship, and enjoyed being a member of the Omega’s. She was an active member of Our Lady of Victory Hospital Auxiliary and served as the treasurer for 10 years. Darlene volunteered at the Stanley Food Pantry and delivered Meals on Wheels for several years. Having her family with her was her greatest joy and she was happiest when everyone was at her home for family dinners, especially at Christmas. She also enjoyed scrap booking and made albums for each of her children and for many of her grandchildren. Darlene loved being at sporting events that her children and grandchildren participated in. For most of her adult life she raised vegetables and flowers in a large garden. Above all, she was proud to be a Christian and faithfully attended services and spent time each day studying the Word of the Lord.
Darlene is survived by her beloved children, Denise Spaeth of Cadott, David (Donna) Manley of Boyd, Donna (Dave) Ciokiewicz of Stanley and Donald (Bobbi Jo) Manley of Stanley, loving grandmother of Joshua (Amy) Spaeth, Clinton (Laura) Spaeth, Shawn (Ashley) Spaeth, Donna (Jeremy) Boettcher, Laura Ciokiewicz, Britany (Luke) Williams, Mindy (Dylan) Zdroik, Becky Straskowski, Amanda, Haas, Chad (Debbie) Haas, Ryan (Tammy) Haas and Chris (Sam) Haas, many great grandchildren, one brother, Paul (Kay) Forsythe of Florida, her sisters in law, Louise Thompson of Eau Claire and Gayle Peterson of Litchfield, MN and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and many close friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Don, a daughter in infancy Dorothy, her parents and a sister in law, Dorothy Pollard as well as her companion: Precious.
A memorial service will be held on September 12, 2020-Saturday at 11 AM at the Plombon Funeral Home with Randy Vandeloo officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior.
