Obit: Wirtz, Darlene (1938 – 2020)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Wirtz, Johnson, Haupt, Worley, Paulik, Altendorf, Burow, Bredlau

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 26 Feb 2010

Wirtz, Darlene (26 AUG 1938 – 17 FEB 2020)

Darlene Haupt Wirtz, 81, formerly of Loyal, passed away on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Phoenix Ariz., after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Friday, March 13, at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home in Mesa, Ariz.

Born in Chippewa Falls on Aug. 26, 1938, Darlene was the daughter of Harold and Grace (nee Johnson) Haupt. Darlene graduated from Loyal High School in 1956. After high school, Darlene worked as a beautician in Milwaukee. One day she gave a handsome Marquette student a ride home to central Wisconsin and fell in love. On June 3, 1961, Darlene was united in marriage to Gerald Paul Wirtz and together they had three daughters. In 1968, Gerald became a professor at the University of Illinois and the family settled in Urbana, Ill. Darlene eventually earned her degree as a Certified Public Accountant from the University of Illinois. After retirement she also earned a Master Gardener Certification from the University of Illinois. Darlene had many interests. To name a few, she loved numbers, plants, reading and genealogy. She also had many life-long friends from wherever she went who will miss her dearly.

Darlene is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law; Cynthia Worley, Melissa (Steve) Paulik, and Lauralee (Jim) Altendorf; eight grandchildren; Katie (Jacob) Burow, Michael, Matthew, Cody, Jonathan, Patrick, Marlee, and Benjamin; and one great-grandchild, Mark Burow.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Jerry Bredlau; her husband, Gerald Wirtz; and a son-in-law, Mark Worley.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given in Darlene’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association to help end this devastating disease.

Her tribute page can be accessed through ALZ.org or directly through this link http://act.alz.org/goto/DarleneWirtz.