Darlene Minnie Marciniak

The Funeral service will be live-streamed at: https://www.ourlivingwater.org/darlenemarciniak.html

Darlene M. Marciniak, age 84, of Willmar, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 4, at Vista Prairie at Copperleaf Serenity Suites in Willmar.

Let us celebrate our lovely Darlene! 84 years of faith, family and friends. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by her funeral mass at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 21, at the Church of St. Mary. Interment will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Darlene's life may be directed to the St. Mary's Foundation or CentraCare Rice Hospice. Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Darlene was born January 7, 1941, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, to Herbert and Lorraine Grambart. She grew up in Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1959. Darlene often spoke of her childhood. There are many stories of driving the tractor, sitting on the backs of cows in the milk house and running around on the farm. Childhood stories of fishing, ice skating, sleigh rides to church & school, family wedding dances.

Darlene met her love, Robert Marciniak, at a bowling alley and they were married on October 8, 1960. Faith, family and friends were her guiding lights. Bob and Darlene made their first home in Champlin, MN. In 1967 they moved to Willmar. In 1999 they moved from the lake into Paynesville. In 2019 Darlene moved back to Willmar.

Professionally Darlene worked as a bookkeeper for Peavey Grain Elevator, part time at Willmar Public Schools and proud owner of Fluff and Puff Pillow Cleaning. Her greatest job was Mother and Grandmother.

Neighbors and children soon found out Darlene always had hot coffee, a full cookie jar and possibly something special in the cake pan. Someone would knock, and her attention was fully locked in on what they needed; hug, snack, prayer or just listen. There was always room in her heart for new friends. Many of you celebrating her life with us are her extra “kids”, “grandkids” and your second “Mom”. “Families come in all shapes and sizes."

There was always a project: quilt to make, dress to sew, something to embroider, summer canning, a new recipe to try, a friend or relative to check in on, or a volunteer event and maybe a dance! Darlene volunteered throughout the community: Mrs Jaycees, teaching religion education and planning several events at St Mary’s, super hockey mom within the Willmar Hockey Association, hosting exchange students, hosting foreign/visiting teachers, and many others.

Family time was the best time for Darlene: Playing board games and cards. “no friends in cards” was often quoted, with a little spunk. Fishing and boating on Lake Florida and Lake Hattie were special times. Celebrating holidays together, vacations, wedding dances and going to grandchildren’s events.

Surviving are her four children, Doug (and Shannen) Marciniak, Dennis (and Becky) Marciniak, Stacey (and Bob) Michels, and John Marciniak; eight grandchildren, Aaron and Ryan Marciniak, Lauren (and fiancé, Nick Pruden) and Katie Marciniak, Maureen and Jameson Michels, Isabelle and Owen Marciniak. Also surviving are her siblings, Beverly Jennings and Glen (and Patty) Grambart; brother-in- law, Greg (and Jane) Jude; and sister-in- law, Lynette (Marciniak) Luallin; besides numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death her husband, Robert "Bob" in 2014; one sister, Sue (Grambart) Jude; and her parents, Herbert and Lorraine Grambart.