Dodgeville - Darlene Woerpel, age 88, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2015 at Bloomfield Healthcare & Rehab Center in Dodgeville.

Darlene was born June 22, 1927 in Dodgeville to Melvin and Azetta (Harms) Forseth. She was second of five children born to the couple and she took great pride in helping her father hand-milk about 40 cows twice a day on their family farm while her older sister Alner helped mother in the garden and with housework. She attended one room schools (Wayside and Pleasant Ridge) and would tell stories of taking a horse drawn sleigh to school with warm blankets over their laps. She also shared tales of the Great Depression and ways of survival on the farm which included canning meat and vegetables.

Darlene married Philip J. "P.J." Woerpel of Dodgeville and they built a life together for 51 years prior to P.J.'s passing on December 31, 2001.

Darlene had a busy life mothering five children while acting as bookkeeper for the Woerpel Building, owned by her father-in-law, in downtown Dodgeville. The building included the movie theater (and Carmel Crisp Shop) bowling alley, Red Room and garage. She also worked for General Telephone Company (now known as Verizon) for over 30 years until her retirement in 1989. She took great pride in her accomplishments both at home and at work.

Darlene is survived by two sisters, Alner (Bernie) Martin of Madison and Delores (Bob) Martin of Dodgeville; her brother, Vernon (Mary) Forseth of Dodgeville; her sister-in-law, Rhonda Forseth of Dodgeville; her five children, Gary (Alice) Forseth of Roscoe, IL, Philip (Connie) Woerpel of Dodgeville, Rita (Ennis) McCaffrey of Charlotte, NC, Fred (Marie) Woerpel of Friendship, WI and Steve Woerpel of Dodgeville; her grandchildren, Paula (Steve) Dick of Sheboygan and their two children Caden and Mackenziei; Angela (Doug) Judd of Dodgeville and their two sons Aaron and Collin; Darren (Jodi) Forseth of Phoenix, AZ and their two sons Tyler and Zachary; Lora Woerpel of Grapevine, TX and her son Christian; Megan Vilchez of Keller, TX and her two children Ariana and Gabriel; Tyler Woerpel, Shawn Woerpel, and Sarah Woerpel and her daughter Jaydee, of Dodgeville.

Besides her beloved husband P.J., Darlene was preceded in death by her infant son, Charles, her parents, Melvin and Azetta, P.J.'s parents, Frederick and Charlotte (Toots), her younger brother, James Forseth, brothers-in-law, Ted Woerpel and his wife Carol, Bernie Martin and Bob Martin.

According to Darlene's wishes, a private family service will be held.

The family would like to give special thanks to our brother Steve and his children Sarah, Shawn and Tyler for their special attention and devotion while caring for Mom at home and away.

"A mothers love always brings your heart back home."