Darlene M. Imm, Phillipsburg
https://www.olliffboeve.com/obituary/darlene-imm?fh_id=12336
May 31, 1929 - May 19, 2023
Darlene Mae Imm of Phillipsburg, Kansas passed away May 19, 2023, at the age of 93 at the Phillips County Hospital. She was born May 31, 1929, in rural Phillips County, Kansas. The daughter of Charlie and Bertha (Johnson) Babcock, Darlene was the third of eight siblings.
Growing up, Darlene rode the family horse, Midge to the Deer Creek Grade School about a mile away. She played the clarinet in the high school band and rode to school with her friend, Betty Shellito, in a little red coupe with curtains on the windows. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1947.
On January 21, 1948, Darlene married Lewis Dean Imm in the First Christian Church Parsonage. Lewis Dean and Darlene lived the first 14 years of their married life 12 miles northwest of Phillipsburg. Darlene was a hard working farm wife, working side by side with her husband and father-in-law while raising her children. When the boys became old enough to help, she had more time to devote to her passion of gardening. They moved to their farm south of Phillipsburg in 1961, and resided there until they moved into Prairie Wind Villa. They marked their 75th wedding anniversary in January of 2023 with a family celebration.
To this union three children were born: a daughter Marcia, and two sons Tony, and Corey.
On November 26, 1967, Lewis Dean Imm and wife, Darlene Imm along with their son, Tony confessed their faith in the Lord and on December 3, 1967, they were baptized into the First Christian Church of Phillipsburg, Kansas by Reverend Don Macy. Darlene’s brother, Terry Babcock, was also baptized that day.
Darlene was a charter member of Deer Creek 4-H Club where her mother was the community leader. She later became the community leader of Deer Creek and continued in that role for over 35 years for her children and grandchildren. Monthly 4-H club meetings were held in the family basement for several years. Lewis Dean and Darlene continued to be lifetime benefactors to the Phillips County 4-H Fair.
For many years, Darlene served on the Deer Creek Township election board, providing the basement of their home as the polling place.
Darlene was a long-time member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship organization which was very active in the area. She served as treasurer for many years of the local CWF, and was president of the District CWF, coordinating events between churches. The local CWF was instrumental in starting the Community Good Friday Service. She was actively involved in sewing quilts for the Colorado Christian Home, was a Sunday school teacher for many years, Vacation Bible School organizer and teacher, and was chairperson of the funeral dinner committee, serving for many years. The First Christian Church women served back-to-school lunch to the teachers in August.
One of her most enjoyable activities was doing aerobics at the United Methodist Church with her good friend, Frieda Redinger. She loved painting ceramics with her friends and passing that craft on to her grandchildren. In later years, she enjoyed having coffee at the corner with her friends and family.
Darlene is preceded in death by her parents, son Corey, sister Katherine Hoover and husband Bill of Phillipsburg, brother Clayton Babcock and wife Betty of Lebanon, sister-in-law Gloria Babcock of Phillipsburg, and brother-in-law Ray Imm and wife Joann of Phillipsburg.
Survivors include her husband Lewis Dean, her children, Marcia Jarmer (Tom) of Wichita, Tony Imm (Linda), and daughter-in-law Mandy Imm of Phillipsburg, her brothers Don Babcock and Terry Babcock (Carolyn), of Phillipsburg, sisters Delores Panter (Fred), of Smith Center, Beverly Jarvis (Wendell), Phillipsburg, and Mary Miller (Butch) of Lebanon, Tennessee. Her seven grandchildren include Lance Jarmer (Andra) of Wichita, Dr. Shana Jarmer-Camblin (Jason), Wellington, Anthony Imm (Bailey), Laike Imm, Sophie Imm, Josie Imm, all of Phillipsburg, and Hannah Mongeau (Shane), of Glade. She also leaves behind nine great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Wed. May 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Monday and 12:00 to 9:00 Tuesday with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or the Phillips Co. Hospital.