Nancy L. Darnell

PORTAGE  –  Nancy L. Darnell, age 66, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, January 30, 2012, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.

Nancy was born on November 18, 1945 in Marshfield, the daughter of Donald H. and Lila M. (Sersch) Schwantes.  She was married on February 21, 1976 to Roy Darnell.  Nancy started working for the State of Wisconsin in 1964 at UW Hospital.  She went to the Dept. of Health and Family Services in 1966, and ended her career at Columbia Correctional in 2000.  She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage.  Nancy was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister.  

She is survived by her husband, Roy, Portage;  her daughter, Wendy Darnell, Madison;  her step-children, Arnold Darnell, Madison, Cathy Rawson, Madison, Barbara Goodbear, Wisconsin Dells, and Gale Darnell, Madison;  she is further survived by her grandchildren, Terry and Travis Darnell;  ten step-grandchildren, Michelle and Joel Darnell, Garrett (Andrea) Rawson, Audrey, Julia, Ginger, Melanie, Rosalene and Emily Goodbear, and Lisa Stout; her brothers and sisters, Daniel (Carla) Schwantes, Spencer, WI, Jane (Anthony) Schillinger, Schofield, Linda Fait, Pardeeville, and Vicky (Mark) Seefeldt, Spencer, WI; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Jean Darnell, Oregon, and many other near relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, twin brothers at birth, a brother, Kenneth Schwantes, her brothers-in-law, Mitchele Fait, and Edward Darnell, and a son-in-law, Orbert Goodbear.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, with the Rev. Alan Boeck officiating.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, and from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Saturday at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, or the MacKenzie Environmental Center in Poynette, or a charity of your choice.