Darlene "Chris" Ballard

Darlene “Chris” G. Ballard, age 88 of Marcus, Iowa, passed away Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Oct. 14, 2025, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, with Rev. Timothy Pick officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Name Cemetery, Marcus. On Monday there will be a rosary at 4:30 p.m. visitation will follow with family present and vigil prayer service at 6 p.m., at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument, Earnest-Johnson Chapel in Marcus, IA. Visitation will resume Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the church. www.fischfh.com

Darlene G. Christensen was born June 10, 1937, in Beresford, SD, to Clarence and Violet (Dahlin) Christensen. She was raised and educated in the Beresford area and graduated from Beresford High School n 1955. She continued her education at The Hotel Dieu School of Nursing in El Paso, Texas, to become a Registered Nurse.

She married Gerald “Jerry” Ballard on April 11, 1964, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Sioux City. Darlene and Gerald made their home in the Marcus area where they farmed and raised their family. They retired from farming in 1993 but continued to live on their farm located near the Marcus Fair Grounds. Throughout the years Chris was also an accomplished RN. She worked at Lutheran Hospital in Sioux City, Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital in Cherokee, Iowa, and lastly Cherokee County Public Health before retiring. In her retirement she enjoyed doing genealogy. Jerry passed away June 1, 2006.

Chris was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church and St. Ann guild. She was a member of a neighborhood birthday club for many years. She was a past member of the Hobby Club and Federated Women Club. She was also a past President of the Marcus Medical Board. She volunteered as a parish nurse for more than 15 years. She also volunteered nearly 10 years for SHIIP, Senior Health Insurance Information Program. She received a Governor’s award as A Woman of Excellence.

Survivors include her daughters, Julie Ballard of Marcus, IA, and Susan (Arlan) Kolker of Shawnee, KS; Three granddaughters, Allison (Kyle Epps) Kolker of Chicago, IL, Ashley (Taylor) Kleich of Sioux City, IA, Jaidyn Ballard of Wayne, NE; 2 great-grandchildren, Landon and Paige Kleich, with another on the way very soon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry; and her brother, Julius P. Christensen.