Darlene Gloria Jean Ball

Darlene (Wahl) Ball passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015 at home in Denver, Colorado surrounded by her loving family. Darlene Gloria Jean (Wahl) Ball was born November 28, 1930 to Joseph and Ida (Hexem) Wahl on a farm in Brookings County, South Dakota. She grew up on the farm, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended rural school in Lake Hendricks Township and graduated from Hendricks High School in Hendricks, Minnesota. After attending Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she worked as a secretary at various companies there. In 1952, she and a girlfriend ventured to Denver, Colorado where she worked as a secretary for a number of firms. On July 16, 1955 she was united in marriage to James Ball at Singsaas Lutheran Church, rural Hendricks, Minnesota. To this union four children were born: Susan (Michael) Horn of Monticello, Indiana, Cynthia (David) Schiappa of Lorane, Oregon, John Ball (Cheryl Kessell) of Omaha, Nebraska and Elizabeth (Michael) Boxler of Golden, Colorado.

Darlene enjoyed working for 25 years at University of Colorado Hospital in the medical records department. She and Jim traveled to Santa Fe and Albuquerque often, where they loved trying Mexican restaurants. They made memorable trips to New Orleans, Washington DC and Banff National Park. They also made many journeys to Oregon, Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota to visit family and friends. Darlene loved to bake pies, lemon bars and cinnamon rolls and cook beef barley soup, sharing her creations with many. Later in life, her day always included watching an episode of Jeopardy. Her good humor and social grace will be missed by all who knew her.

Darlene is survived by her husband of 60 years, her four children, five grandsons: Ian Kimsey, Walter Horn, James Herman, Benjamin Herman and Nicholas Boxler, one step-granddaughter Cynthia Butler, her dearest and oldest friend Eloise Rickard, a host of other loving relatives and friends and Juno, her kitty companion. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Harvey Wahl and grandson John Thomas Horn.

Darlene’s family sincerely thanks The Denver Hospice for their guidance, encouragement and loving care in the past few weeks and Atonement Lutheran Church where Jim and Darlene have been members for years and encourage memorial donations be given to either organization. Additionally, Darlene loved animals and our family would like to encourage donations of useful items or money to the Foothills Animal Shelter (www.foothillsanimalshelter.org)