Darlene Eleanore Zummak Esmoil, 96 years old, of Waterloo, Iowa, and formerly of Independence, Iowa, died of natural causes, Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Friendship Village Retirement Community in Waterloo.
Darlene was born on September 13, 1929, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond Henry Zummak, Sr. and Bertha Hermine (Lenz) Zummak. She grew up on a farm outside of Jesup and graduated high school at the age of 16, with the Jesup High School class of 1945. Darlene continued her education at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and became a secretary at the American Can Company in Waterloo.
On December 4, 1949, Darlene was united in marriage to Walter Ora “Ozzie” Esmoil in Jesup. During Walter’s time in the Marines, the couple relocated, but ultimately settled in Independence, where they raised their family. Darlene worked as the Secretary of Nursing Education at the Mental Health Institute in Independence and was very active in the community and her church. Darlene was environmentally conscious, service minded, and she was always looking for ways to help others. For many summers, Ozzie and Darlene would set up their camper at EWALU Bible Camp in Strawberry Point, Iowa, and served as camp hosts. They loved spending their hours splitting and stacking firewood, as well as helping build and repair the buildings at the camp. At her church, she enjoyed volunteering with the quilting group, along with helping assemble school, sewing, and baby supply kits to be sent overseas. She also devoted much of her time to the Buchanan County Genealogy Society. Her memory was sharp as a tack, and she served as the family historian. Darlene cherished every minute she could spend with family.
Darlene is survived by one daughter, Diane (Tom) Eachus of Waterloo; one son, Brent (Karen Nelson) Esmoil of Helena, Montana; two grandchildren Brian (Natalie Gillard) Eachus, Sarah Eachus; one great granddaughter, Gwenivere Eachus; one brother, Raymond Zummak, Jr. of Jesup; one sister, Rachel (Dixon) Bunger of Carrollton, Texas; many nieces and nephews; and her goddaughters, Lori (Chuck) Glander, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Andrea (Brett) Soukup of Independence.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sons, Bruce Lee Esmoil, Brian Dean Esmoil, Bradley Walter Esmoil; and one brother, Duane Zummak.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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