Darlene Ann (VanDeRostyne) DeSchepper

Darlene Ann DeSchepper, 78, of Annawan, IL, was called home to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where she was being cared for after suffering a stroke. A Funeral Mass celebrating her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21st, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Annawan. Father S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Annawan.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson. A Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Annawan-Alba Rescue Squad, Sacred Heart Church, or Hammond-Henry Hospital Long Term Care Unit.

Darlene was born on August 2, 1938, in rural Atkinson, IL, the daughter of Herman and Mabel (VerBaker) VanDeRostyne. She went to Annawan schools, first attending Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Annawan High School in 1956. She graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Kewanee in 1959.  She married Robert “Bob” DeSchepper at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Annawan on September 12, 1959. They spent their first two years of married life in Germany, while Bob served in the Army. Their first child, Michael, was born there. After returning home, they lived in Kewanee and Neponset, before moving to Toulon to raise their family.  Upon retirement, they moved to Annawan.  Darlene worked for private care Home Health for several years, later at the Stark County Nursing Home and finished her nursing career at Kewanee Hospital’s Extended Care Unit, retiring upon its closing.

Darlene was a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America, at the Council and District level for over 30 years. She served as a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 150, as well as Cub Day Camp Director.  She earned a District Award of Merit & the Silver Beaver Award. She also volunteered for the Toulon Blood Mobile and Toulon Senior Citizen’s Meal Delivery.  Darlene was a 4-H Leader, a volunteer for Toulon Music Boosters, and a member of the St. John and Sacred Heart Altar and Rosary Societies.

Survivors include her husband, Robert. They were blessed with five children, including Michael (Laurie) DeSchepper, Dixon, Julie (Gary) Frail, Toulon, Doug (Chris) DeSchepper, Davis, Richard (Beth) DeSchepper, Altona, and Todd (Jodie) DeSchepper, Kewanee; eleven grandchildren, Larissa (Adam) Frantz, Kelsey DeSchepper, Sarah, Emily and Andrew DeSchepper, Kaitlyn and Kiley DeSchepper, Kyra DeSchepper, Olivia Frail, and Abigail and Nathaniel DeSchepper; and three great-grandchildren, Ben and Lucas Johnson, and Addison Frantz.

She was preceded in death by her parents as well as several close aunts and uncles. 

 Service Information