Darlene Koca

Notes:

Darlene Jacobsen, age 83, died at her home in Lincoln with daughter Susan and granddaughter Amber at her bedside on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. She was born August 29, 1928, on a farm near Milligan, Fillmore County to the late William and Emma Koca. Darlene was retired from Lincoln Public Schools. She started teaching school in a one-room school house near Milligan in the mid 1940's. She and her husband, Warren owned and operated Woodlawn Station and Cafe near the Lincoln Air Base until the Interstate was built. The last years before she retired, she worked at Park Junior High as a para.

Survivors: Son and wife, Roger and Lynda Jacobsen, Geneva; daughter Susan, Lincoln; Grandchildren, Amber, Hannah and Marlie of Lincoln, Will and Amanda Jacobsen of Seward, Tim and Carla Jacobsen of Omaha, and Matt and Dorothea Jacobsen of Lincoln; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Norma Jean Marquardt and Verlyn Koca of Lincoln. She was preceded in death by her husband Warren and son Ronald.

A graveside service will be held Friday, September 9th. at 4 p.m. at Wyuka, with Pastor Kevin Pringle from One80 Church officiating. Use Vine Street entrance. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, for educational needs for Susan's children can be directed in care of Aspen Funeral Home, along with condolences at Aspenaftercare.com .

During her last days, family members would go through her keepsakes to keep her alert, they came across a music card that played the tune, "Roll out the Barrel", an old Czech song that she and her children would send back and forth kidding each other that they don't have to spend money on a new card every year. When it was handed to her, she opened it and as it began playing, she began to sing along with it. It was recorded. At the end days, when she was unable to talk, when it was played back to her, when you didn't think she was coherent in any way, she smiled when hearing it....over and over.

When told she will be missed, her reply was "don't cry, I'll see you in heaven".

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)