Darlene Ann Salsberry

Darlene Ann (Obirek) Salsberry, 85, passed away with her family by her side early on January 8, 2024, at Unity Point (Methodist) in Des Moines, Iowa, after suffering from acute cardiac complications. There will be a Celebration of Life Service to commemorate the lives of Tom and Darlene (Obirek) Salsberry on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. for a time of prayer, music, and eulogies at the Raccoon River Nature Lodge in West Des Moines. Please arrive prior to the event between 3:45 and 4:25 p.m. There will be an Italian Dinner catered by Christiani's at 5:15 p.m.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Tom and Darlene Salsberry on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa. A luncheon will follow at the church. The family will have a private burial for both Tom and Darlene at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Melcher-Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designations, as Darlene gave so much to so many charities and organizations.

Darlene was born on December 21, 1938, in Pershing, Iowa, to Santina (Sunday) and John Obirek. She and husband Tom, who passed in June 2020, were residents of Ankeny, Iowa, since October 2003, after having enjoyed 43 years living in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa, where they had raised their three children while Darlene worked in her salon, The Beauty Spot.

Darlene and Tom were members of both Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Melcher-Dallas, and at the Basilica of St. John, in Des Moines. Darlene’s cherished memories are of her years as a cosmetology instructor, religious educator, and involvement in the Life in the Spirit community at St. Ambrose in Des Moines. She enjoyed caring for all of her grandchildren and watching televised sports. As “The Italian Grandma,” she loved feeding everyone who came to her house with both her Italian and Polish inherited recipes, in addition to making Christmas candy. For Darlene, Family was everything, but above that was her deep devotion to her Catholic Faith and savior, Jesus Christ.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Christi Dhabalt; son Steven (Cynthia); brother John Obirek; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; five “double cousins”; and many other loving family and friends. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 60 years, daughter Julie Knudsen, sister Kathy McNamara, and nephew Johnny Obirek.