Darlene Kellogg

Dec. 17, 1934 - Nov. 6, 2011
CASSOPOLIS -Darlene Anne Verburg was born December 17, 1934, to Cornelius and Musette Verburg. She lived in Comstock, MI, before moving to Cassopolis, MI, at the age of 13. She graduated from Cassopolis High School (Cassopolis, MI) in 1953 where she was a member of the basketball team and was also crowned "Miss Cassopolis" that year. In 1953 she married Freeborn Kellogg, and together they had six children. They divorced in 1972. She loved being a mother and created many fond memories for her children. She enjoyed family holidays, was an aspiring writer, and enjoyed driving a school bus for the Cassopolis Public Schools where she drove the "Bugs Bunny" bus. Darlene worked as a lab technician for over 25 years, her last position being at Bayer Labs, Elkhart, Indiana, which she loved. She retired in 1996. Darlene was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. She always loved fishing and over the years shared her passion with many of her children and grandchildren. She liked gardening, yard work, flannel shirts, and the occasional motorcycle ride. She always enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as all of the other friends of her children she "adopted" and mothered over the years. She had great interest in Native American culture and the Roman Catholic Church. She was always proud and happy she had converted to Catholicism early in her marriage. She was an active member of St. Pius X, and attended regularly until her illness prevented her from doing so. She is survived by her children, Kevin (Barb) Kellogg, Fort Wayne, IN, Katie (Kevin) O'Meara, West Bend, WI, Winnifred Mary Maguire, Mishawaka, IN, Beth Kellogg, Sun Prairie, WI, Amanda (John) Benjamin, Madison, WI, Matt Kellogg (Eric Kornfeld), New York, NY; also, Kay and Mike Merrill of South Bend, IN. She is survived by 22 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who all love "Grandma Darlene." She was preceded in death by one grandchild, Gabriel. Darlene chose to donate her body to Indiana University School of Medicine. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, November 11, 2011, at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will be one hour prior in the church at 10:30 a.m. A special thanks to her caregivers, particularly Liz Kugel and her daughter, Mary Maguire, who lovingly cared for her and helped her to realize the items on her "bucket list". Memorial contributions may be made in Darlene's name to St. Margaret's House, 117 N. Lafayette, South Bend, IN 46601.