Darlene "Dolly" Zaugg

Darlene A. Zaugg, 82, of Rockford, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, May 21, 2021.  She was born July 23, 1938, in Lake Bronson, Minnesota, the daughter of Albert and Pearl (Olsen) Gunnarson.  Married Lynn D. Zaugg on September 7, 1957, in Rockford.  Member of Chapelwood Community Church.

Darlene was born and raised in Lake Bronson, Minnesota.  At age 18, she decided to embark on a greyhound bus to Rockford.  At the same time, Lynn was coming home on a Greyhound bus from his first year of college in Idaho.  She stood at the curb in pin curls as Lynn looked out the window and prayed that she would get on his bus.  She did and the rest is history!  A year later they were married and starting a family.  She was a devoted and loving wife who adored her husband and children.  She opened their home to young people who just wanted to hang out for the day or who needed a temporary home to live.  She genuinely cared about people and was a great listener, putting others ahead of herself so many times in life.  She loved God with all her heart, and it showed.

If you happened to talk with Lynn on any given Friday, he would “brag” about having a date with an angel!  Darlene was his angel!  You seldom could ever interrupt that night…it was reserved only for her!  But he wasn’t the only one who thought Darlene was an angel...many people did.  Maybe it was because of her sweet demeanor, gentleness, kindness, and thoughtfulness she showed not only to her family and friends but also to those she’d meet for the very first time.  Christ’s love shined through her life and it was beautiful to see.

She will be remembered for her beauty inside and out, that pretty flower that she placed perfectly in her hair, the enjoyment she found in shopping at those thrifty stores while Lynn was out fishing, her enormous collection of jewelry that gave her the nickname “jewelry Grandma” by her great grandchildren, the way she shared anything she had with everyone she met, and for so much more.

Darlene took care of her family with a passion.  She was there for all of us!  She went to games and school functions and was a sweet grandma and great grandma, taking time to get to know her grandchildren and share her life with them selflessly.  Our tears glisten in the light of faith and hope, knowing that her departure out of this world to the Father is an entrance into the Kingdom.  In 2003, David passed and a piece of her heart went with him.  She has been reunited fully with family that she missed so dearly.  What a glorious sight she is beholding today in Heaven.  We can only imagine what she is experiencing right now but know that it is beautiful.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Lynn, of Rockford; daughters, Crystal (Steve) Huene, of Machesney Park, Cindy Oler of Loves Park, and Connie (Tom) Cwynar of Machesney Park; daughter-in-law, Annette Zaugg; Jany Zaugg (mother of Martina, Dimitri, and Larissa); grandchildren, Ryan Oler, Kyle (Brittney)Oler, Lindsay (Tony) Rosella, Mallory Cwynar (Eric), Martina Zaugg (Bart), Joy (Eric) Lundstrom, Dimitri Zaugg, Larissa Zaugg (Rudy) Zack (Ellen) Chosnyk, Alex (Alyssa) Odell, Stephanie (Bryant) Hagemann; great-grandchildren, Collin, Kenzie, Madison, Ellie, Michael, Maxwell, Van, Halyn, Giavanna, Josie, Millie, Hailey and Thomas; brother, Ben (Marilyn) Gunnarson of Frisco, Texas; and twin brother, Donald (Norma) Gunnarson of Aurora, Colorado; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Celebration at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., 401 River Lane, Loves Park, with visitation from 9:30 a.m. to service time.  Burial in Willwood Burial Park.  Visitation also from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in her name.

This is a celebration of her life!  She lived her life wearing bright colors!  In honor of her love for happy, bright things we welcome you to join us in wearing pretty colors that she would have enjoyed!