Darlene Sherstad

Darlene O. Sherstad , 93, of Grantsburg, died Sunday, March 25, 2018 while under hospice care and with the support of the staff at Shady Knoll Home. Darlene was born August 9, 1924, in the farm home of her parents, John and Hattie Ostermann, near Charles City, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children. Her family moved five times, from one rented farm to another, by the time she was in 6 th grade. School transportation was a horse-drawn wagon. Darlene was the only 8 th grader in her school and then joined a freshman class of 125 at Charles City High School. She lived with her two sisters in an apartment in town during the school week, making it home on weekends for a resupply of food. Graduating in the “business” path in 1942, Darlene took jobs as clerk and bookkeeper for two local stores. These led to a credit manager position at the Montgomery Ward office. She met a post-war sailor, Carlyle, in May of 1946 and they were married on Nov. 3 rd of that year at St. Johns Lutheran Church, where she had been confirmed as a teenager. Darlene continued to work in Charles City, and later Cambridge, MN where she managed to cover groceries on $3 a week, even after their first born, Samuel, arrived in 1947. In early 1950, they moved to Grantsburg, opening Carlyle’s Cleaners and making their home in the upstairs apartment. Darlene opened her “Next to New” shop adjacent to the dry cleaners and her business skills were again invaluable. Four more children were born during these busy years: Salene, Todd, Sid and Tami joined the family. The businesses had morphed into Carlyle’s Clothing store on Main Street. Darlene thoroughly enjoyed her role as a buyer, merchandiser and credit manager as theirs became a full family clothing store. She loved organizing style shows for civic and church groups throughout the region, and later they added stores in Siren, WI and Pine City, MN. Somehow, she found time to volunteer with church committees and Sunday School, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and to be part of Woman’s Club, Legion Auxiliary, Ladies’ Golf League, and dedicated herself to work for the American Cancer Society. She earned several recognitions for her contributions to the community and region. Darlene enjoyed bowling, whist & bridge, XC skiing, travel, quilting, rug-braiding, the Vikings, the Twins and attending innumerable events of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In later years, she became an avid walker here and while spending winters in Texas. Darlene was a 48-year breast cancer survivor and the primary caregiver for 10 years of her husband, Carlyle, after his debilitating stroke. She will be remembered for her warm greetings and welcoming ways, her cheerful attitude and her positive outlook, for offering support and encouragement to everyone, for the strong faith that she lived every day and for her love and enthusiasm for her family, friends and life in Grantsburg! Darlene is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Carlyle; her parents; four siblings: Herman, Beck, Mary and Dorothy; grandson, Erik Sherstad. She is survived by her five children: Sam (Becky) Sherstad, Dallas, TX; Salene (Tom) Bonneville, Grantsburg, WI; Todd (Cheryl) Sherstad, Ijamsville, MD; Sid (Karen) Sherstad, Siren, WI; and Tami (and the late John) Greiber, Orono, MN; 12 grandchildren: Jacqueline, Rochelle, Alanna, Matt, Andrew, Dane, Darrin, Jenna, Kristina, Ryan, Ellie and Ben; 10 great-grandchildren: Carly, Cole, Garrett, Bryn, Naomi Darlene, Olivia, Carlyle, Zoey, Haddie and Declan; and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Faith Lutheran Church, 421 S Russell St, Grantsburg, with a visitation beginning at 1:00pm. Arrangements are entrusted with Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Faith Lutheran, Regional Hospice or to Shady Knoll for a memorial garden. Darlene loved fashion and color. She would love to know that you came to her service wearing a splash of color to brighten the day. If you can’t attend, please consider wearing a bright color in her memory.