Darlene Ruth (Moss) Kerr
July 1, 1927 — August 2, 2017
Darlene Ruth (Moss) Kerr, age 90, of Coggon, Iowa, a loving mother, step-mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The family will greet friends from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017, at United Parish Church in Coggon. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church conducted by Reverend Sheri Andersen. Burial will follow at Coggon Cemetery, Coggon. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City.
Darlene was born on a farm along County Home Road, north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 1, 1927. She has lived on the same farm since marrying Henry W. Kerr in 1943 or 74 years to date. Darlene’s working years included raising her four children, the annual farm work and 40 years as a cook and head cook for the Cedar Rapids YMCA Camp Wapsie next to the Kerr farm. Thousands of campers, hundreds of staff and volunteers, plus YMCA board members and camp donors enjoyed homemade meals from Darlene’s YMCA Camp Wapsie kitchen, especially the homemade breads, caramel rolls and chicken and noodles. After retiring, she received many visits on the farm from previous YMCA Camp Directors, Counselors, and Campers just wanting to visit and partake, of course, in any of her homemade goodies that might be on hand. In her retirement years, Darlene volunteered for the Red Cross traveling thousands of miles around the USA as a Red Cross volunteer cook representing the Southeast Iowa American Red Cross Chapter serving hot meals out of the IRV to thousands of natural disaster survivors. Darlene was called on many times to transport neighbors and friends to doctor appointments which she enjoyed. She was also a 50 year member of the Order of The Eastern Star. Darlene hand knit over 100 Christmas stockings for family and friends. She also crocheted thousands of items.
Darlene is survived by her loving children, Donald (Phyllis) Kerr of Woodland, Minnesota, Shirley Anderegg of Edgewood, Iowa, Barbara (Clyde) Martin of Palmetto, Florida, and David (Judy) Kerr of Portage, Michigan; step-son, John (Viola) Kerr of Rochester, Minnesota; and sister, Betty Abernathy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, Douglas and Daniel Anderegg, Aley Moritz, Amy Wessel, Lynn O’Neil, Erin Holt, Paul and Mark Kerr, Jarad and Jason Brown, Melissa Brown Hanifen, Greg and Gary Kerr, Deanna Hixson, James Kerr, Daniel and Robert Kerr, Deborah Aycock, Karen Bowers, Mary Marshall, and Jean and Katherine Kerr; 32 great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Maleaha and Ella Anderegg, Jackson and Will Moritz, Natalie, Avery and Samantha Wessel, Sage and Enya O’Neil, Lily, John, Jake and Heidi Holt, Isaiah Kerr and Isabelle Byrnes-Bartell, James Kerr Dees, Ryann Hanifen, Zachary and Hunter Brown, Mason and Kendall Brown, Nicole, Jeffrey and Matthew Bowers, Rose, Daniel and Lily Marshall, Ava Lundtvedt, and Marie, Branwin and Rhiannon Kerr; three great-great grandchildren, Ty David and Gustus John Dophin and Braden Steven Tower; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry W. Kerr; special friend, Ralph Gillmore; mother and father, Charles and Olive Moss; her sisters, Ellen Comried and Myrtle Yardley; her brothers, Russell, Charles, Robert, and Donald Moss; son-in-law, Glenn Anderegg; great-granddaughter, Lydia Rose Moritz; and step-son, James and his wife, Marlena Kerr.
Memorials are encouraged for YMCA Camp Wapsie, 2174 Wapsie Road, Coggon, Iowa 52218 or United Parish Church, 208 3rd Street N., Coggon, Iowa 52218.
Darlene was born on a farm along County Home Road, north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 1, 1927. She has lived on the same farm since marrying Henry W. Kerr in 1943 or 74 years to date. Darlene’s working years included raising her four children, the annual farm work and 40 years as a cook and head cook for the Cedar Rapids YMCA Camp Wapsie next to the Kerr farm. Thousands of campers, hundreds of staff and volunteers, plus YMCA board members and camp donors enjoyed homemade meals from Darlene’s YMCA Camp Wapsie kitchen, especially the homemade breads, caramel rolls and chicken and noodles. After retiring, she received many visits on the farm from previous YMCA Camp Directors, Counselors, and Campers just wanting to visit and partake, of course, in any of her homemade goodies that might be on hand. In her retirement years, Darlene volunteered for the Red Cross traveling thousands of miles around the USA as a Red Cross volunteer cook representing the Southeast Iowa American Red Cross Chapter serving hot meals out of the IRV to thousands of natural disaster survivors. Darlene was called on many times to transport neighbors and friends to doctor appointments which she enjoyed. She was also a 50 year member of the Order of The Eastern Star. Darlene hand knit over 100 Christmas stockings for family and friends. She also crocheted thousands of items.
Darlene is survived by her loving children, Donald (Phyllis) Kerr of Woodland, Minnesota, Shirley Anderegg of Edgewood, Iowa, Barbara (Clyde) Martin of Palmetto, Florida, and David (Judy) Kerr of Portage, Michigan; step-son, John (Viola) Kerr of Rochester, Minnesota; and sister, Betty Abernathy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, Douglas and Daniel Anderegg, Aley Moritz, Amy Wessel, Lynn O’Neil, Erin Holt, Paul and Mark Kerr, Jarad and Jason Brown, Melissa Brown Hanifen, Greg and Gary Kerr, Deanna Hixson, James Kerr, Daniel and Robert Kerr, Deborah Aycock, Karen Bowers, Mary Marshall, and Jean and Katherine Kerr; 32 great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Maleaha and Ella Anderegg, Jackson and Will Moritz, Natalie, Avery and Samantha Wessel, Sage and Enya O’Neil, Lily, John, Jake and Heidi Holt, Isaiah Kerr and Isabelle Byrnes-Bartell, James Kerr Dees, Ryann Hanifen, Zachary and Hunter Brown, Mason and Kendall Brown, Nicole, Jeffrey and Matthew Bowers, Rose, Daniel and Lily Marshall, Ava Lundtvedt, and Marie, Branwin and Rhiannon Kerr; three great-great grandchildren, Ty David and Gustus John Dophin and Braden Steven Tower; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry W. Kerr; special friend, Ralph Gillmore; mother and father, Charles and Olive Moss; her sisters, Ellen Comried and Myrtle Yardley; her brothers, Russell, Charles, Robert, and Donald Moss; son-in-law, Glenn Anderegg; great-granddaughter, Lydia Rose Moritz; and step-son, James and his wife, Marlena Kerr.
Memorials are encouraged for YMCA Camp Wapsie, 2174 Wapsie Road, Coggon, Iowa 52218 or United Parish Church, 208 3rd Street N., Coggon, Iowa 52218.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Darlene Ruth (Moss) Kerr, please visit our flower store.