Darlene Duben

Darlene Ann Checki Duben, 72, of Nacogdoches, Texas, died Thursday, March 6, 2014, in Nacogdoches.

She was born March 27, 1941, in Fond du Lac, Wis., the eldest child of David and Mary Seurer Checki. She was the beloved wife of Anthony J. Duben. They were married April 27, 1970.

Survivors include her husband; two brothers, Peter Checki of Oshkosh, Wis., and John Checki of Fond du Lac; many nieces and nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Barbara Checki Julka.

Darlene earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and elementary education from Marian University in Fond du Lac, a master of arts degree in elementary education and supervision from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and a specialist degree in school administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. For most of her professional career, she was an elementary school teacher in Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri.

She lived in Cape Girardeau from 1983 to 2005, while her husband served as professor and chairman of the Computer Science Department and as associate dean of the College of Science and Technology at Southeast University.

In Cape Girardeau, Darlene was active in university women's groups and gardening groups and was a volunteer in pro-life services. She loved music, opera, theater and ballet. She also enjoyed travel and loved animals. She was an avid rose gardener and planted flowering plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. She was a member of Old St. Vincent's Church in Cape Girardeau.

In 2005 her husband took a position at Stephen F. Austin University as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and they moved to Nacogdoches.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 11, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with the Rev. Monsignor James E. Young officiating. Entombment was in Sunset Memorial Park.

Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home.