Obituary of Darlene Kay Larew

Darlene Kay Larew, age 66, of West Branch passed away Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 am Friday, March 18, 2022, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to Oxford United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be livestreamed and can be viewed under the livestream tab, here on Darlene's obituary page. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit the funeral home website www.gayandciha.com. Darlene Kay Maiden was born July 24, 1955, in Anamosa, Iowa the daughter of Delmer Maiden and Irene Selma Frances Gienapp Maiden. She attended schools in Mt. Vernon, graduating with the Class of 1973. She was united in marriage to Edgar T. Larew at the Oxford United Methodist Church on June 28, 1975. The couple have made their home in West Branch for the past 45 years. Before retirement, Darlene had worked for IAC in Iowa City for 40 years and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for a few years. Darlene’s love for her family and friends was paramount, but her passion for life was further characterized by a wide array of interests. Darlene spent many years, and a few bucks, collecting Beanie Babies and cookie jars. She loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, Denver Broncos and NASCAR. She enjoyed the outdoors, camping, boating and water skiing, her gardens, riding the Gator and attending football games. She could be seen on occasion winning at the casino, shopping for just the right thing, driving her Camaro, playing cards, watching gameshows and caring for her loving pets. For her, nothing beat playing, visiting or talking with her grandkids. They taught her about soccer, Minecraft, Legos, Uno Attack, Fortnite and other iPhone games. They loved playing her in Mario Kart and so much more. It never failed that she would always have new clothes, toys, books, and candy to spoil them with when they came to visit. Her family includes her husband, Ed; their children, Dawn Boucher (Jason), and Tiffany Larew Ferrer (Michael); grandchildren, Lorelai and Cameron Boucher, Parker, Jacqueline and Ellie Ferrer; sister, Karen Maiden; nephew, Nicholas Shaffer; niece, Susan Beranek (her children Jesse, Brady, Alicia and Brittany); and brother-in-law, Merlin Laing. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Joyce Laing and infant brother; and her in-laws, Harold (Jim) and Lue Ellen Larew.