Darlene Joan Brisky, née Ness, died April 6, 2026, leaving an extraordinary legacy of family, service, and leadership; a legacy that will continue to inspire.

First, her story in her own words, as recently relayed...

“I was born, October 12, 1932, the third of twelve children, to Verna Von Wald Ness & Thomas Lars Ness. I was born at home on Lodi Street with my grandmother, Dora Von Wald, and Lodi’s midwife, Esther Thompson, assisting my mother Verna and me. My mother said, and even left in notes, that, ‘Darlene was a real good baby.’

I went to school in Lodi for all grades but was always working a lot to pitch in. I made meals and cared for others from a young age. On one babysitting job as a teenager for the Holak family, owners of Lodi’s Pool Hall, I was asked to ‘sit-in’ as partner for a Euchre Game. Bob Brisky was my partner. I graduated from Lodi High School in 1950. I married Robert James Brisky at First Lutheran Church on November 4, 1950. We settled in on Seminary Street and grew our family to five kids. In 1959 we moved across the train tracks, down the hill from my parents to my Prairie Street Home. Our family grew to eight and I lived here until my death.

To help support our fast-growing family I started a baking business out of our home. I baked cookies and cakes for all occasions. The large wedding cakes, for which I became known, I first made as ‘practice cakes’ for my siblings when they were married. My Prairie Street Home even had a separate ‘baking room’ where I spent lots of hours baking, frosting, and decorating hundreds of cakes. In addition, I cooked breakfasts at CB’s and the Downtown Café, I also waited tables at Jim Hare’s City Limits. In 1979 I was hired by the Lodi School District to be the Food Service Manager, and I worked there until I retired in 1997. Lodi’s school kids especially looked forward, I was told, to the days when my Pizza Burgers and Corn Meal Bars were on the menu.”

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 1999, recently by her beloved daughter Barb in February, son Ron, granddaughter Leah, and great granddaughters Trina & Mila. Ness siblings Joyce (Ray) Robert (Dolores) Donna (George) Dale (Alice) Ardis (Leon) Tom and Jim. Bob’s siblings, Bill (Marie) Marion (Alfred) and Richard (Shirley) & Carol’s husband Dick.

She is survived by her children Gary (Cheri) Dan (Jill) Judy, Rick, Tom (Rita) & John (Colleen). Her grandchildren Traci (Donavon) Lance (Karen) Beth (Craig) Renee (Dave) Sara (Will) Rebecca (Isaac) Emry, Isabel (Kyle) Ty (Erin) Nicole, Shanna (Brennyn), Matthew, David & Jessica. Her great grandchildren Dilan (Arielle) Kaelyn (Sam) Marrissa (Steven) Ryan, Adrian, Alyssa, Trista (Blake) Jordan, Ella, Ashley, Olivia, Ryla & Jax. Her great great grandchildren Asher, Conway, Stella, Lainey & Kruz. Ness siblings Audrey (Dave) Tom’s wife Judy, Tack (Connie) Charlie & Don (Jean), Bob’s sister Carol & many nieces and nephews.

Darlene, we honor and thank you for the legacy of “family love” and service that you leave us. You were a mother to eight, grandmother to fifteen, great grandmother to thirteen, and great great grandmother to five. In addition, you served a significant “Other Mother” role to so many more. You became the matriarch to whom your nine younger siblings turned after your mother died, always there to listen and offer support. You helped to care for your father, your sister Joyce, and Emma & Claude. Your hosting of the very large and boisterous Ness Clan for Christmas in your home from 1975-2020 endeared you to the hundreds of nieces and nephews, and their families, that you hosted. And, of course, you also always made sure there were plates of cookies and candies that made their way to our homes at Christmas as well. In between your hosting of holiday gatherings, throughout the year you were the endless, energizer bunny of family communication. You made sure flowers from family were purchased and sent, and you kept us connected with good stories, family history, and humor.

We will remember you, Darlene, for your service not only to your family, but for your service and leadership in the community as well. For nearly 20 years, Darlene, you served as head of the food service department for the School District of Lodi where you oversaw the preparation of thousands of meals for Lodi’s schoolchildren. We know that this work was physically demanding and personally challenging because it required keeping so many constituencies happy, yet, Darlene, you did it with your characteristically friendly manner which endeared you to all with whom you worked.

After your retirement you transitioned to lead in other ways. Your love of genealogical research led you travel to Europe to visit the family homesteads of your mother’s Von Wald family in Switzerland, and your father’s Ness homestead in Norway. The stories you brought back further connected and enriched our lives, and this passion for family history, led, in time to your leadership in the local historical society. In 2005 you became president of the Lodi Valley Historical Society where you served for many years. As president you worked tirelessly to expand the museum’s facility into the Jolivette Memorial House where Lodi’s past could be better preserved and displayed to promote and celebrate the community’s history. You were also a leader in service at the Lodi Lutheran Church, your church home for decades. There you coordinated many Easter breakfasts, always providing the sweet rolls, and numerous Lutefisk Suppers which were major fundraisers for the church and an avenue for honoring the Nordic heritage of so many of Lodi’s Lutheran families.

We further remember you, Darlene, for the way that you opened your home to the community at Christmas, donating all the contributions gathered to the local food pantry. This same spirit was evident in your being a member of the Women’s ONO (Our Night Out), a women’s organization devoted to enjoying and sharing company and camaraderie, and engendering activism to benefit others. All of these ongoing community involvements and leadership appropriately led to your Lodi Citizen of the Year Award in 2009.

Visitation will be held at the GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 157 S. Main St., Lodi on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Private family services and burial will be held.

Mom, there is so much that can be said about you, and the legacy and gifts you have bestowed for so long, on so many! You dedicated your life to serving your family and community, and you always did so with such grace and charm. You worked tirelessly, in wide-ranging places and ways, to serve and strengthen the bonds that tie us together as a family and a community. We are and will always be grateful to you for your work, inspiration, and your love.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson Lodi

Funeral & Cremation Care

157 S. Main St.

(608) 592-3201

Darlene Joan Brisky

October 12, 1932 - April 06, 2026

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