Darlene Ruth Schmidt was born on February 4, 1932, on a farm near Burt, Iowa, to Emil and Adella Meyer Eimers. She received her education in Burt, graduating from the Burt High School. Darlene graduated from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, IA. After her schooling, Darlene worked for a time at the General Store in Burt. On February 8, 1953, Darlene was married to Wilfred L. "Whip" Schmidt at the St. John's Lutheran Church at Burt. The couple lived for a short time near Titonka, IA, where Whip worked for Don Budlong. They then moved to the home place near Woden, IA and started farming. Darlene helped Whip on the farm and raised her family during this time. She also started working at the Titonka Care Center in the late 1980's, where she eventually became head of housekeeping.

Whip and Darlene moved into Titonka in 1995. Darlene was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church near Titonka, where she belonged to various women's groups. Her husband, Whip preceded her in death on January 7, 2002.

Darlene enjoyed playing cards, golfing, gardening, cooking and bus trips to casinos. She also enjoyed shopping, quilting, attending flea markets and auctions, fishing and trapping with her grandson and watching church league softball, but her greatest pleasure was watching her grandchildren participate in all their activities and spending time with her many friends and relatives.

Darlene died suddenly at her home in Titonka on Saturday, January 21, 2006. She was 73.

Darlene is survived by her son, Bob Schmidt, Woden, Iowa and her daughter, Chris Formanek and husband, Randy, Garner, Iowa. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jeffrey Schmidt, Ashley Formanek, Scott Schmidt, Chelsey Formanek and 4 brothers, Ray Eimers and wife, LaVonne, Midway, Arkansas, Jerry Eimers and wife, Darlyn, Dike, Iowa, Ervin "Shorty" Eimers and wife, Pat, Burt, Iowa, Don Eimers and wife, Norma, Coon Rapids, Minnesota and her sister-in-law, Inez Eimers, Storm Lake Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Whip, one brother, Everett and an infant, daughter, Irene.