Darlene Thune

Darlene J (Hilke) Thune, 87, of Pine Island died Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at Seasons Hospice in Rochester. Darlene was born December 27, 1930 in Battle Creek, Iowa to Franz "Frank" and Margaret (Bliss) Hilke. She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1947. Darlene became an employee of First National Bank in St. Charles and various purchasing departments in Rochester. In 1951 she married M. Richard Thune, the love of her life. They spent 60 years together until his death in 2011. They raised four children.
Darlene had many hobbies, including gardening, crocheting, quilting, oil painting, designing jewelry, breaking her own horses for saddle and training her beloved labs. She also was an avid reader and a "hell of a fisherwomen". Darlene received the Molly Pitcher award from Fort Sill, Oklahoma for work she did with her husband on the newsletter and reunion of the 300th Army Field Artillery Unit, "The Cowboy Cannoneers".
She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Thune of Red Wing, a brother, Gaylen (Ginger) Hilke of St. George, Utah, grandchildren; Erin (Brian) Karlstad of Red Wing, Michael Thune, Jr. and Ryan Thune of Salinas, CA, Stephanie Thune of Portland, OR, Erik Thune and Sarah Salyards of the Twin Cities, a great-grandson, Ethan Ruff of Hastings and many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents, he husband, brothers, Gordon and Kenneth Hilke, two sons, Richard and Michael, a daughter Patricia Freiheit, two grandsons, Jesse and Kyle Thune and most recently by her faithful companion lab Inki.
Services to remember Darlene will be 11 a.m. Monday, September 17, 2018 at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles with Chaplain Carol Shaffer of Seasons Hospice. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Sunday and 10 - 11 a.m. Monday at Hoff Funeral Service. Please share a memory of Darlene at her online guestbook and view her video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may directed to Mayo Hospice.