Darlene J. Bryant

Darlene J. Bryant, 85, of Mason City gained her angel wings on November 8, 2023, with her loved ones by her side at the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. A celebration of Darlene’s life will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Clear Lake VFW Post 4868, 219 Main Ave. Mark Dobel will lead a time of prayer during the celebration, with a time of sharing memories. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Please join the family in celebrating the life of “God’s Angel” Darlene Bryant.

Darlene was born on March 22, 1938, to Sam and Mildred (Throstheim) Werstein in Iowa City, Iowa. Darlene grew up in Garner, Iowa, with her two sisters and three brothers.

On August 11, 1956, she married Newton Ford Bryant in LuVerne, MN. During the first year of marriage, the couple moved to Wichita, KS, where they started their family. In 1958, they moved to the Mason City/Clear Lake, IA area.

To this union, Darlene and Newt had and raised four children and a grandson, Daniel. Darlene loved her family and would do anything so they had what was needed. Darlene worked as a waitress for many years until she was hired at Deckers Meat Packing Plant in Mason City which she also worked as a laborer. Deckers closed down, which forced Darlene to go back to school and she received an Office Administrator degree, then she was hired on at Massey Fergason Farm Equipment on South Federal in Mason City. She worked there for a few years until Armour/Conagra opened the new facility on the west side of Mason City. Both Darlene and Newt returned to work at Armour until retiring.

Darlene was always devoted to her job; she held positions with the union as she was The Union Stewart and she worked hard to be the best at everything she did and believed in.

Over the years, Darlene helped with Boy Scouts as a Den Mother. Darlene was very active with the Women’s Bowling Association. YES! She worked her full-time job and somehow fit in the time to Bowl 3-5 times a week. Because of her accomplishments with bowling, having bowled many 600 series and many games of 200, attending many tournaments (city, state, and nationals), Darlene was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame. Bowling was her sport and she loved it!

In 1995, Darlene and Newt started to go to Texas for the winter months. In 2002, the home at 1518 N. Monroe in Mason City was sold and Darlene and Newt moved to Rio Valley Estates in Weslaco, TX. Texas was a whole new adventure for the whole family, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy “The Life of Being a Winter Texan”.

Life took a change for Darlene on November 25, 2007. Newt had passed away. Darlene continued to reside in Weslaco, TX. She would come to Iowa and spend the summer months because it was just too hot down in the Valley. Deb, Bill, and Ellen would go down and spend time with Darlene when it was so cold in Northern Iowa. Darlene absolutely loved her Texas family and friends.

Darlene loved to travel. She loved going to South Padre Island and loved going to Mexico with her friends and when her kids came down to visit. Darlene loved going with friends to have pedicures and the many trips to pharmacies, shops, and lunch. Mexico was always a great time and passed a lot of time.

In March of 2022, Darlene decided it was time for her to move back to Mason City, IA, her health was taking a toll on her daily living and she wanted to be home, closer to her girls.

In the spring of 2022, Darlene moved to Shalom Towers; an apartment which was her comfort spot, and she was content. Darlene always had a love for BINGO! With the Senior Center right across the street from her apartment she could walk right over and play bingo on Monday and Thursday evenings. Darlene shared her love of bingo with her kids, Deb, Bill, and Ellen, and many friends. Bingo two times a week wasn’t enough, Darlene’s bingo schedule is as follows: Sunday- Floyd to play at 1 p.m., Monday and Thursday- Mason City Senior Center to play at 6:30 p.m., Friday- Masonic Temple to play at 6:30 p.m., Saturday- Ellen would pick Darlene up and they’d go to Ellsworth to play at 5 p.m. If there was a place to play bingo, Darlene was happy to go and join the fun. Darlene had a good time and enjoyed her many bingo friends or call it her bingo family.

Darlene loved to go out to eat; didn’t matter where, she was always happy to go. She loved the fact that she was back home in Mason City with her girls and Bill- the best son-in-law one could have! Darlene and Bill would pick on each other all the time; Bill was a great help to mom and her needs. She was so grateful of Bill, and she made sure people knew how important Bill and her girls were to her in her life.

Darlene is survived by her two daughters, Deb (Bill) Baker and Ellen Bryant of Mason City; grandson, Dan Bryant of Donna, TX; granddaughter, Katie; eight great grandchildren, her brother, Ronnie (Faye) Werstein of Dawson Springs, KY, sister-in-law, Patty Werstein, brothers-in-law, Bert and Dorothy, and Jim and Joyce, and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Newt in November 2007; son, James D. Bryant in November 2015; daughter, Julie Ann in May 1991; two grandsons, John Robert and Jimmy Jr; her parents Sam Werstein and Mildred Denny; brothers, Roger and Richard Werstein; and sisters, Donna Mullen and Teresea (Snooks) Gabel.