Darlene R. Miller

Darlene Reinette Miller died at home peacefully in her sleep Monday, October 10, 2022. She was 88.
Born February 11, 1934, in Slinger, Wisconsin, she was the fifth and youngest child of Olga (nee Gruel) and John Lehn. Her parents, brother Raymond, and sisters Gertrude Schnick, Florence Karch and Gloria Lehn predeceased her.
Darlene was a force of nature with a big personality and quickly made friends with everyone she met, learning all about them before they knew what was happening. She remained fast friends with people she met from her very early childhood and beyond.
She was born during the Great Depression to a dairy farmer in Slinger. Her early years consisted of chores including making sure the cows came home. She graduated from Slinger High School in 1951.
Deciding to be a beautician, she studied cosmetology at Milwaukee Vocational and Adult Schools, where she learned hair styling skills she used throughout her life. She proudly kept her beauticians license active into her 80s and was much in demand to give haircuts and permanents to family and friends. She first worked in a beauty salon in West Bend, Wisconsin, right next door to the home of her soon- to-be husband, Lee. She was highly skilled in giving the ducktail haircut, extremely popular at the time with young people, and quickly developed a large and loyal clientele.
Later she worked in a machine shop and then a book bindery where she excelled at her work and found joy making friends with coworkers. For a time she was the cook for the owner and executives of one of the companies where she worked.
She was an avid cleaner and had her slightly-less-than-enthusiastic family help her keep their home spotless. She also enjoyed gardening and keeping her lawns looking pristine, both in Milwaukee and at their cabin in northern Wisconsin.
For one birthday, her daughter Wendy gave her a book about painting rocks, which led to a hobby she was most famous for. She painted a variety of things on rocks including animals, religious symbols, Packers logos, portraits and more. She was always looking for the perfect type of rock to paint and, to the chagrin of Lee, frequently found them on visits to their daughters in Seattle, which meant hauling a bunch of rocks in their luggage on their flight back to Milwaukee. In addition to giving rocks to friends and family, she also made them to order and often sold them for far less than they were worth. Many, many people have a lasting remembrance of her in rocks she made for them depicting a beloved pet or something near to their heart. Many of her rocks are displayed at her long-time church, Salem Evangelical Lutheran in Milwaukee.
She and her family were members of the church since moving to Milwaukee. She lived near her sisters and was very close to her nieces Susan Karch, Robin Allen, Lori Anderson and Rochelle Karch, and nephews Daniel and the late William Schnick. She enjoyed hosting family and friends at Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Her dinners and get-togethers will be greatly missed.
She claimed that she didn't have a favorite child, but we three knew that we all were her favorite. The world will not be the same without your dynamic presence Mom.
She is survived and deeply mourned by her children Kim, Wendy and Steven Miller, grandson Connor Anderson and 21 nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, 6840 N. 107th St. on Tuesday, October 18 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at noon. Committal ceremony will be at Wisconsin Memorial Park on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.