Darlene Joyce Grover

FITCHBURG - Darlene Joyce (Evert) Grover, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend passed away on January 11, 2025, at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison, Wis., surrounded by family.  

Darlene was born on September 8, 1935, in the back of a doctor’s office on Water Street in Sauk City, Wis. After her arrival, she was taken down Highway 12 to the Town of Berry by her parents, Franklin P. and Violet (Vitense) Evert. She’d spend all of her formative years on two different farms. Growing up during the Depression was very hard, but she always felt very fortunate to grow up on a farm where she learned all of the life lessons of hard work, responsibility and teamwork. She had a special bond with her sister, Marilyn, and often remarked they should have been twins, but Marilyn knew she was in a good place and chose not to be born until 27 months later.

Darlene attended Kerl Country Day School on Highway KP and Otto Kerl Road, where her mother and grandmother had gone before her. She then went on to Danz School on Spring Valley Road. Through the rest of her life, whenever given the opportunity, she bragged about the exceptional education she received in those country schools. In her retirement years, she worked as a docent at Dane County’s oldest existing one-room country schoolhouse museum with her favorite teacher, Mrs. Cleo Brockmann. Every spring and fall they gave school children an in-person look at how school used to be. They did this together from 1999 until 2015 and retired from being docents at the ages of 80 and 93.

Darlene attended Mazomanie Union Free High School and graduated in 1953 on a Friday night. On the following Monday morning, she began working at Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Company. After only three months there, she was offered a position by the U.S. government at USAFI (United States Armed Forces Institute); a correspondence school for service members. Established by the federal government in 1942, it was headquartered in the building on the Wisconsin capitol square where the Children’s Museum stands today.

Darlene had a 43 year-long career, 30 of which were spent working for the federal government, including the FDIC, the VA hospital and USDA Farmers Home Administration. She was also employed at the Graber Company for eight years as a data processing supervisor.

Music was always an important part of Darlene’s life. She sang in choir, played the accordion, taught music lessons and loved the Statler Brothers. It’s no wonder that she became a “band groupie” and followed her husband, Hank, as he played in many bands in southern Wisconsin, ending his touring career with the Kristi B Band.

Darlene loved ice skating, a love which began in the 1950’s when her mother drove the family to the Ice Follies in Milwaukee and ended with being a fan of Badgers hockey and the NHL.

Darlene was a talented needle artist, creating beautiful needlepoint kits, pictures and samplers. Like her mother before her, she was also a talented seamstress. She could mend, alter, patch or sew anything. At any point in time, there would be at least five pairs of jeans to mend, two prom dresses to make and alter or her great-granddaughter’s christening gown to craft from her own wedding dress.

Darlene joined her son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Sandy, in her retirement years in working at the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Civil War Reenactors Annual School Day Event. They helped to shepherd thousands of Wisconsin school children through an active Civil War encampment. She made all of their period costumes as well.

Darlene and Hank were members of St. John’s in Madison and St. Paul’s in Marxsville, where she was baptized, confirmed and the two were married.

Darlene is survived by her sons, Daniel (Jill) of Oregon and Timothy (Corinne) of Elroy; grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Grover, Rebecca Suter, Trevor Warmuth, Patrick (Jessica) Grover and Cora Rose Grover (Evan); great-grandchildren, Jonathon, Lillee and Joshua Grover, and Jut, Jillian and Livee Suter. She cherished them all with all her heart. Time spent with them was precious. She is further survived by her siblings, Marilyn Hahn and Paul (Marjorie) Evert; sister-in-law, Gloria Evert; and her beloved nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, relatives and friends.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Violet and Franklin Evert; grandparents, Mary and William Vitense and William and Laura Evert; brother, Ronald J. Evert; brother-in-law, Richard Hahn; her dearly loved grandson, Spencer Grover; daughter-in-law, Sandra Warmuth Grover; and husband of 63 years, Arthur “Hank” Grover.

She wishes to thank Dr. Albert Musa and Dr. Richard Shropshire for keeping her going all these years.

Rest in peace, mom.

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate” - Proverbs 31:31

A celebration of life will be held at ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH - MARXVILLE, 8748 State Road 19, Mazomanie, at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025. Burial will be held at the church cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the church. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul/St. John’s Church Marxville, The Friends of Old Halfway Prairie School or an animal shelter of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761