Obituary for Darlene Mae Jampsa
Darlene Mae Mattson Jampsa
August 3, 1936-October 25, 2022
Darlene Mae Mattson Jampsa, age 86, Minnesotan turned Whidbey Islander, died peacefully at Harbor Towers in Oak Harbor, Washington.
Darlene was born in New York Mills, Minnesota to Matt and Mamie (Niemela) Mattson; she was raised in New York Mills, where she graduated from high school. Darlene grew up in a large family as one of twelve children. On September 4, 1954, she married Kenneth Clifford Jampsa in Wolf Lake, Minnesota. They lived in Menahga, Minnesota until 1962 when they moved to Portland, Oregon. They came to Coupeville in 1977.
Darlene was a gifted seamstress, even sewing two of her daughters wedding gowns. Throughout her years as a wife, mother, and grandma, she continued to amaze family and friends with her talent for sewing, crocheting, and needlework. Darlene worked alongside her husband, Clifford, to clean and finish houses he had built, preparing them for showing and sale. She attended Mount Hood Community College to study interior design. In Coupeville, Darlene started her own children’s clothing consignment store, Pigtails and Cowlicks, with some of her own handmade clothing items. Her store was housed in the lower level of the family restaurant, Penn Cove Restaurant. For enjoyment and leisure, she joined friends for bingo, bowled in recreational leagues, cheered on the Portland Trailblazers, and loved to go camping.
Her love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren far surpassed any of her accomplishments. Affectionately named Gigi, at the birth of her first great-grandchildren (Connor and Carter) and referred to for decades since by the generations of family members that adored her. Gigi enjoyed spending her free time cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at various sporting events. Gigi’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren have fond memories of baking banana bread with her, but mostly enjoying all the treats she baked for the family.
Darlene is survived by her five daughters, Diana Kappeler, Susan (Neil) Wagner, Karen (Howard) Freudenberg, Jolene Jampsa, and Pamela (Danny) Burley; nine grandchildren, Angie (Jon) Darby, Ryan (Amelia) Wagner, Adam (Rachael) Kappeler, Colleen Mae (Chris) Kosberg, Joel (Kimmy) Freudenberg, Kyle (Allison) Jampsa, Drew (Jessica) Burley, Daniel Burley, and Benjamin Burley; eighteen great-grandchildren, Connor, Carter, and Paityn Mae Darby; Luke, Norah, and Eleanor Mae Wagner; Natalie, Olivia, and Sean Corn; Casey Mae, Calvin, and Cody Kosberg; Keira Freudenberg; Danny, Reagan, Kennedy, and Nixon Burley; Rickie Burley; one sister, Judy Koste; also, numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by her only son, Jeffrey Jampsa in 1960 and her husband, Kenneth Jampsa in 2001, her son-in-law Kenneth Kappeler, as well as ten of her eleven siblings: Reuben, Adeline, Doris, Lorraine, Bernice, Mary, Grace, Lloyd, Morris, and Eugene.
A memorial service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, Oak Harbor, Washington on November 4, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, Washington.
August 3, 1936-October 25, 2022
Darlene Mae Mattson Jampsa, age 86, Minnesotan turned Whidbey Islander, died peacefully at Harbor Towers in Oak Harbor, Washington.
Darlene was born in New York Mills, Minnesota to Matt and Mamie (Niemela) Mattson; she was raised in New York Mills, where she graduated from high school. Darlene grew up in a large family as one of twelve children. On September 4, 1954, she married Kenneth Clifford Jampsa in Wolf Lake, Minnesota. They lived in Menahga, Minnesota until 1962 when they moved to Portland, Oregon. They came to Coupeville in 1977.
Darlene was a gifted seamstress, even sewing two of her daughters wedding gowns. Throughout her years as a wife, mother, and grandma, she continued to amaze family and friends with her talent for sewing, crocheting, and needlework. Darlene worked alongside her husband, Clifford, to clean and finish houses he had built, preparing them for showing and sale. She attended Mount Hood Community College to study interior design. In Coupeville, Darlene started her own children’s clothing consignment store, Pigtails and Cowlicks, with some of her own handmade clothing items. Her store was housed in the lower level of the family restaurant, Penn Cove Restaurant. For enjoyment and leisure, she joined friends for bingo, bowled in recreational leagues, cheered on the Portland Trailblazers, and loved to go camping.
Her love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren far surpassed any of her accomplishments. Affectionately named Gigi, at the birth of her first great-grandchildren (Connor and Carter) and referred to for decades since by the generations of family members that adored her. Gigi enjoyed spending her free time cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at various sporting events. Gigi’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren have fond memories of baking banana bread with her, but mostly enjoying all the treats she baked for the family.
Darlene is survived by her five daughters, Diana Kappeler, Susan (Neil) Wagner, Karen (Howard) Freudenberg, Jolene Jampsa, and Pamela (Danny) Burley; nine grandchildren, Angie (Jon) Darby, Ryan (Amelia) Wagner, Adam (Rachael) Kappeler, Colleen Mae (Chris) Kosberg, Joel (Kimmy) Freudenberg, Kyle (Allison) Jampsa, Drew (Jessica) Burley, Daniel Burley, and Benjamin Burley; eighteen great-grandchildren, Connor, Carter, and Paityn Mae Darby; Luke, Norah, and Eleanor Mae Wagner; Natalie, Olivia, and Sean Corn; Casey Mae, Calvin, and Cody Kosberg; Keira Freudenberg; Danny, Reagan, Kennedy, and Nixon Burley; Rickie Burley; one sister, Judy Koste; also, numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by her only son, Jeffrey Jampsa in 1960 and her husband, Kenneth Jampsa in 2001, her son-in-law Kenneth Kappeler, as well as ten of her eleven siblings: Reuben, Adeline, Doris, Lorraine, Bernice, Mary, Grace, Lloyd, Morris, and Eugene.
A memorial service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, Oak Harbor, Washington on November 4, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, Washington.