Darlene Jukes

Darlene J. Jukes, 92, of McPherson, KS, peacefully passed away on Monday, December 18, 2023, at McPherson Health & Rehab.

Darlene Jeanette Strom was born August 31, 1931, at McPherson Hospital, McPherson.  Her parents were Clarence William and Joy Ingeborg (Nyquist) Strom.  They lived on a farm in New Gottland.

At the age of five, Darlene became very ill after having had a smallpox vaccination while she had a bad cold.  It settled in her hip joint and malformed it. As a result of the illness, she started at a country school “Scandia” a year late.  A kind teacher jumped her from second grade to fourth grade so she wasn’t a year behind.  She attended that school through eighth grade.  She attended McPherson High School and graduated in 1949.  While a senior, she worked for two years for Darrah-Aurell & EK Carey Drug Co.

On April 8, 1951, Darlene married Norman E. Jukes at Ft. Worth, TX.  She had met him at a Lutheran Bible Camp four years earlier and dated him.  Norm was in the Air Force and was stationed at Randolph AFB in San Antonio.  They lived in San Antonio and she worked for Gilcrease Oil Company.  Their son, Steven Lewis, was born January 21, 1954, at Brooks General Hospital in San Antonio.  In 1955, the Jukes family moved to Wichita, and Norm got into the insurance business.  They lived in Wichita and Tulsa until February 1960, when they moved to McPherson.

Norm went into business with Howard McInteer while  Darlene was a stay-at-home mom.  In 1965, their friends, Chris and Stormy Heiner, were transferred out of town and their daughter, Linda, was to be a senior.  So, Linda lived with the Jukes family during her senior year of high school and became their “daughter” from then on.

On March 4, 1987, Steve’s accident happened at Cargill.  He was manager at the Salt Plant in Hutchinson.  Steve was burned very badly.  Norm had a heart attack on March 9, and died on March 12.  Steve died March 23, 1987.

In September 1987, Darlene went to work for her friend, Carol Schroeder.  Previously, they had been neighbors in Wichita.  The Schroeders had the PizzaCo office in McPherson.  Darlene worked for Carol for 19 ½ years and retired from there in April 2006.

Darlene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, U & I Dinner Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Friends in Council, Domestic Art Club, Chapter HI of PEO, Beta Omicron Sorority of ESA, Thursday Bridge Club, ONO Bridge Club, and McPherson Hospital Auxiliary.  She was a former board member of the McPherson Hospital Foundation and a local hospice organization.  She was also on the Drug Abuse Committee.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Strom & Joy Strom Lindberg; husband, Norman Jukes; son & daughter-in-law, Steven & Janice Jukes; sister & brother-in-law, Virginia & Dempsy Perkins; and brother & sister-in-law, John & Nancy Strom.

Darlene is survived by granddaughter, Kristen Jukes and husband, Doug Boleski; Linda Fitzgerald; nieces & nephews; and many wonderful friends that meant a lot to Darlene.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, December 29, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Tim Leaf officiating.  Burial will follow at New Gottland Lutheran Cemetery. To view a live stream broadcast of the service, please click on the following link: https://evt.live/funeral-service-of-darlene-j-jukes

Memorial donations can be made to Steve Jukes Scholarship Fund or Trinity Lutheran Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.