Private family services for Melva Darlene Hart, 79, rural Lawrence, will happen at a later date.
Melva Darlene Lauppe Hart died October 7th, 2022 at Baldwin Rehabilitation and Medical Center.
Melva, who went by Darlene, was born 11/24/42 in Winfield, Kansas the daughter of Harold O. Lauppe and Ione Ruggles Lauppe of Burden, Kansas. Darlene attended Silver Creek School, which was a one room school house, until she attended Burden High School, for the 9th grade. She graduated from Burden High School in 1961 and after her graduation she moved to Lawrence, Kansas.
While growing up in Burden, Kansas, Darlene participated in 4H, school activities, played basketball at the high school, and was a cheerleader. She lived in rural Burden in which her home did not have indoor plumbing and electricity until she was older. In 1961 she was selected as Miss Burden to represent Burden in the Arkalalah Festival in Arkansas City, Kansas.
After her high school graduation she moved to Lawrence, Kansas and attended flight attendance school for a short period. In early 1962 she met Neal Hart and they were married, in Lawerence, on 08/26/62 and resided in Lawrence, Kansas after their marriage. In 02/64 Darlene gave birth Elizabeth Hart and in 09/65 she gave birth to her second child Phillip Hart.
Darlene worked for various companies including Hallmark Cards, McCrory-Otasco Company, Assisted Living, and the State of Kansas. While working for the State of Kansas and Assisted Living, she cared/attended to the elderly who needed assistance. She developed long lasting and sincere relationships with many of her clients.
Darlene greatly enjoyed life which included listening to Bluegrass music and attending the Walnut Valley Music Festival near her hometown of Burden, Kansas. She crocheted and loved sitting on her deck, with her husband, at her rural Lawrence, Kansas home watching deer, birds, and viewing the sunset. She attended Vinland United Methodist Church where she was active in UMW and taught Sunday School to youth for years. If she found a penny on the street she would donate it to the church and collected aluminum cans and donated the recycling proceeds to the church.
Darlene loved to socialize with family and friends. She was quick to invite others to her home for Easter, Thanksgiving, or just a Sunday lunch. Darlene cherished her family which included immediate and extended family and enjoyed attending family reunions in Winfield, Kansas. She kept an extensive and detailed genealogical record of her family as her heritage was of great value to her.
Darlene was proceeded in death by her brother Dwain O. Lauppe. She is survived by her husband, Neal Hart of Baldwin, daughter Elizabeth Hart of Minneapolis, Minnesota, son Phillip Hart and wife, Laurie of Lawrence, grandchildren Hollis and Wylie Britton of Minneapolis, and Darius and Desmund Hart of Lawrence. She is also survived by her brother, George M. Lauppe of Lawrence, and sister-in-laws Marceil Lauppe (Lawrence) and Jaurene “Moe” Lauppe (Burden). Other survivors include multiple nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews, cousins, and distant relatives.
Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurses, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.
