Darlene Mae JOHNSON

1930 - 2016  (85 years)

• Name	Darlene Mae JOHNSON
  Birth	3 Aug 1930	Iowa
  Gender	Female
  Death	27 Jul 2016	Jackson County, Minnesota
  Notes	Darlene Carpenter Ireland, 85, of Jackson, passed away at the Sanford Jackson Medical Center on Wednesday, July 27th. Darlene Mae Johnson Carpenter Ireland was born on August 3, 1930 in Independence, Iowa to Matthew and Mae Johnson. She graduated from Independence High School and worked for a time at the local bank. After her marriage to Kenneth Carpenter on October 15, 1949, they moved to Glen, a village south of Aitkin, Minnesota. She was actively involved in the community until their move to Jackson, Minnesota in 1966. Darlene was interested in people all her life and her many job titles show her creativity and passion: 4-H club leader; master seamstress; Deputy Registrar office employee; manager of Senior Dining; driving school bus for 20 years; started and directed the Jackson High School Band Flag & Rifle Corps where she was known as ‘Ma Carp' to all the young people whose lives she touched for 17 years. Everyone in town knew they could get a good Christmas tree from Darlene's Tree Lot, which she operated from 1966-1989. Darlene was an avid flower gardener and enjoyed being a ‘Call Girl'-making reminder phone calls – for the local Garden Club until her death. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. Darlene loved being outside, bird watching, doing jigsaw puzzles, making ceramic village pieces, spending time with her dogs that she enjoyed so much and all things Christmas! She and Jim Ireland were married on July 10, 1976. In 2009 Jim preceded her in death, as had her parents, four brothers, one sister, and her daughter Susan Sharkey Schneider. Darlene is survived by her beloved brother Raymond Johnson of La Porte City, IA; son-in-law Robert Schneider, Santa Rosa, CA; children Steven (Becky) Carpenter of Jackson; Karla (Patrick) Thurmer, Cape Coral, FL and Karen (Don) Wells, Farmington, MN; Jim's children Jeffrey (Tammy) Ireland, Ft. Dodge, IA and Jody (CJ) Nailor, of Lansing, MI. Darlene was blessed with eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery.
  Person ID	I22292	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	1 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family 1	Kenneth Lee CARPENTER,   b. 4 Sep 1930, Newton Twp, Buchanan County, Iowa d. 10 Jul 2001, Stearns County, Minnesota (Age 70 years)
  Marriage	15 Oct 1949	Buchanan County, Iowa
  	First Baptist in Independence
  Divorce	24 Mar 1975	Jackson County, Minnesota
  Children	1. Susan Lynn CARPENTER,   b. 22 Sep 1950, Crow Wing County, Minnesota d. 13 Apr 2013, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California (Age 62 years)
  Family ID	F14820	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family 2	James Donald IRELAND,   b. 7 Jul 1928   d. 18 Apr 2009, Jackson County, Minnesota (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	10 Jul 1976	Jackson County, Minnesota
  Family ID	F16065	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	15 Dec 2015