Darlene R. Haerer

Darlene Ruth Volkmar Haerer, 83, died peacefully Wednesday, May 5 at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison. Services will be Monday, May 10 at 11 a.m. at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.

Born Dec. 12, 1937, in St. Louis, Mo., she was the first of five daughters of the Rev. George and Ruth Volkmar. With her father’s service in the Lutheran ministry, the family moved to Elwood, Ind., Monroeville, Ind., and lastly to Garden City, Mich., where her father started Good Hope Lutheran, a mission congregation.

Darlene graduated from Garden City High School in 1955 and went on to Detroit City College to hone her secretarial skills.

She met and married her husband, Armin, in Ann Arbor, Mich. She worked at Burroughs Corp. and at Bendix Aerospace Division as a private secretary, putting Armin through medical school.

Darlene was a member of a Navigators small group Bible study where she had the passion, as do all Navigators, “to know Christ, make Him known and to help others do the same.” She lived her life as a devout believer in Christ and as one of “God’s fellow workers” (II Corinthians 6:1). She was always in His presence.

The Haerers moved to Jackson, Miss., in 1965 when Dr. Haerer joined the Department of Neurology at University of Mississippi Medical Center. As a homemaker, Darlene was known for holding evenings of classical duets by Armin, who was a violinist in the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, with their friend Betty Rosenbaum at the piano in their Belhaven home.

She was a devoted mother to her daughters, Alice and Martha. She immersed herself in community service as a member of the Junior League of Jackson, the Symphony League of Jackson and the First Presbyterian Church Ladies’ Circle Group. Each summer, she taught Vacation Bible School at First Presbyterian. She continued in her call to serve as a teacher for the Women’s Bible Class at Lake Harbor Baptist Church in Brandon.

Although she had many medical hardships during her life, Darlene always had a smile for everyone. Her joyful spirit was an example to all, as she endeavored to imitate Christ in everything she did (I Corinthians 11:1). She had learned to be content and to endure all circumstances because of her faith in God (Philippians 4:11-13).

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and her parents. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Alice Haerer Holland and Ben Holland of Madison, and Martha Haerer West and Bill West of Brandon; beloved granddaughter, Hannah West of Brandon; sisters and brothers-in-law, Janet Volkmar Keener and Edwin Keener of Canton, Mich., Kay Volkmar Trombat of Sterling Heights, Mich., Georgene Volkmar Gilcher and John Gilcher of Ocala, Fla., and Anita Volkmar Summers and Bruce Summers of Traverse City, Mich.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses heartfelt appreciation to the many devoted caregivers Darlene had over the years who loved her and treated her as one of their own. This gratitude is extended most especially to Joyce Luckett and Sharon Morton, her caregivers of many years; Priscilla Sullivan, her longtime nurse at St. Catherine’s; Nurse Practitioner Gina Seago; and Dr. Mac Addison. Deep appreciation goes as well to Kvetta Slobodnikova, whom Darlene loved dearly, and to Audrey Jackson of Southern Homecare and her dedicated corps of caregivers. The family also thanks the staff at Kindred Hospice, especially nurse Kelly Ingebretson and chaplain Brother Gary Briden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons International at www.gideons.org/donate or by phone, 1-866-382-4253.