Jessie Darlene Brucks Nagle of Hondo went home to her heavenly Father, whom she loved and to whom she dedicated her life, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at age 92.

Born in Hondo, April 25, 1927, she was the daughter of Alfred and Ella Bohmfalk Brucks.

Darlene graduated from Hondo High School and Southwestern University in Georgetown, where she made long-lasting friendships with fellow students and faculty. She was named Miss Southwestern in 1951. Darlene worked at Jefferson Methodist Church in

San Antonio as the church school director for four years. She then moved to Austin and worked at the Methodist Student Center. It was there she met and fell in love with her future husband, Bert Nagle.

On June 4, 1960, she and Bert married in Hondo. Bert was a teacher and Darlene was a librarian. After retiring, they bought an RV and began traveling. They loved folk dancing and went to Polka and Waltz festivals throughout the United States. One tour, hosted by Myron Floren of the Lawrence Welk Show, took them to Austria and Bavaria.

Darlene loved hiking and enjoyed the beauty of God's world. She was an avid bird watcher and studied wildflowers – she could name them all.

Darlene loved serving God through First Methodist Church. She could often be found at the church, volunteering, serving on committees, or singing in the choir.

Throughout the years, Darlene never missed an opportunity to have her nieces and nephews spend summer vacations with her and Bert. Those days were especially fun – camping under the stars, floating down the Hondo Creek, trips to Garner Park, putt-putt golf, staying up late and making gallons of homemade ice cream. The list goes on and on.

Darlene and Bert eventually returned to Hondo to take care of her aging parents.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband in 2000; her parents; and her sister and brother-in-law, Glenrose and Arnold Saathoff.

She is survived by two brothers and their wives, Arlie and Jan Brucks of Minnesota and John and Lanelle Brucks of Mississippi, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home Chapel.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.