Darlene A. Herting, age 84, of Dubuque passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Stonehill Health Center surrounded by her family.  To celebrate Darlene’s life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1701 Rhomberg Avenue, with Rev. Martin Coolidge.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Darlene was born at 3:10 a.m., on October 4, 1942, at her parents home in rural Graf, Iowa.  She was the 2nd daughter of Kenneth and Bethel (Letts) Cole.  In the old stone church at Lattnerville she was Baptized, made 1st Reconciliation, 1st Communion and was Confirmed.  Darlene grew up in the country where she attended grade school in a 1 room schoolhouse in a class with only 3 students.  She went on to graduate from Dubuque Senior High School, Class of 1960.

On January 4, 1961, she was married to Emil H. Herting by a Justice of the Peace, and their marriage was later blessed by Father Tom Vos at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.  Darlene and Emil had 5 children together and Emil had 3 older children from a previous marriage.  She learned to sew at an early age using an old treadle machine and continued sewing her entire life.  Darlene was an extremely devoted wife and mother.

Darlene was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, served as a Den Mother, 4H Assistant Leader, spent 10 years as the Chairman of Baking/Canning Open Class for the Dubuque County Fair, served 1 year with the Parent Teachers Club and was president of the TOPS Club.  Darlene believed in being active in her community and giving to others.  She made a generous donation to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center for the research and treatment for Merkel Cell Cancer.

In her free time, Darlene enjoyed gardening, sewing, canning, traveling and camping with family, especially at the Big H Campground.  After the kids were grown, she and Emil enjoyed taking bus trips to see the country.

Darlene was a wonderful woman who made the world around her a better place.  She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.

Those left to cherish Darlene’s memory include

8 children,
Mary Miller, Key West, IA,
Michael (Karen) Herting, Pamona, CA,
Lisa Howes, Dubuque, IA,
Tammy Seay, Johnston, IA,
Lee (Michelle) Herting, Fort Dodge, IA,
Lori (Jeff) Davis, Dubuque, IA,
Kendy (Bob) Fauska, Johnston, IA
and Eric Herting, Nevada, IA;

14 grandchildren;

13 great-grandchildren;

a great great-granddaughter;

her siblings,
Nancy Peters, North Liberty, IA,
Lyle (Pam) Cole, Hazel Green, AL
and Jeffery (Mary) Cole, Peosta, IA;

and several nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emil Herting; her sons-in-law, Carl Miller, Guy Kennicker, Don Howes and Ron Seay; and 2 sisters, Melody Cole in infancy and Mary Pearl Willis.

Darlene’s family would like to thank her faith community at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, for their friendship and support.  We especially want to thank her good friends, John and Lorri Jackson, for their love, prayers, friendship and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, cards and memorials in Darlene’s memory may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Darlene Herting Family, and will be donated to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com