Darlene Marie Sojka, age 81, of Washington died Tuesday February 2, 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a short illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 2:00 pm Saturday February 6, 2010 at Jones - Eden Funeral Home in Washington with services conducted by Dave Reha. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm Friday at the Jones-Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. A memorial has been established to the Washington County Hospital Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for Darlene's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Darlene was born on October 6, 1928 in rural Riverside, Iowa the daughter of Melvin and Blanche (Hora) Havel. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1947. Darlene was united in marriage to Alvin George Sojka on August 6, 1947 in Riverside. She was a lifelong resident of Riverside and Washington communities. Darlene worked at Washington County Hospital as the dietary supervisor until her retirement in 1988. She volunteered at the VA Hospital in Iowa City. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, playing cards and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Darlene is survived by her son, Steven Sojka and wife Ronna of Riverside; daughter, Charlotte Sojka of Iowa City; son, Perry Sojka and friend Toni Sandell of Washington; three grandchildren, Tina Sojka of Des Moines; Amber Capps and husband Jeff of Iowa City; and Gabe Sojka and wife Pam of Minnetonka, Minnesota; two great granddaughters, Adelaide Capps and Anja Sojka; and one brother, Raymond Havel and wife Sandy of Nichols.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2008; and one sister, Dorothy Olson in 1990.