Darlene R. Hough passed away holding the hand of her husband of fifty-eight years on the morning of July 2, 2015, at Bethel Home in Viroqua, Wisconsin.
Darlene was born on April 5, 1932, to Fred and Helen (Kaukl) Machovec. She grew up on her parents’ farm outside of Hillsboro, attending Debello country school and graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1950. A lifelong lover of learning and school, Darlene received her two-year teaching certificate from La Crosse State Teachers College and later finished a BA in education there. Her first teaching job was at the one-room country school she had attended as a child, and she then taught at many country schools including Dell, Trippville, and County Corners. She also taught fifth grade in La Farge and finished her career teaching seventh and eighth grade in Hillsboro. She was a passionate and dedicated teacher and enjoyed her many students and their accomplishments while holding herself and her pupils to very high standards.
Darlene married John (Jack) A. Hough on June 15, 1957, after a long courtship and many turns around the dance floor. Their son, David, was born on their first wedding anniversary in 1958. Darlene and Jack spent their married life working together to breathe new life into their farm and make it flourish again. Darlene loved reading, doing crossword puzzles (in pen, of course), flower gardening, taking art classes, attending plays and concerts, documenting local history, and exploring her Czech language and heritage. She was an enthusiastic traveler, embracing the world in all its variety with an open and curious mind. She and Jack enjoyed their many trips to California, England, and the Czech Republic to visit friends and relatives.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband’s parents, Kenneth and Frances Hough; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Clyde and Carol Hough and Danny and Alice Hough; a great-nephew, Jacob Ward; and special aunts, Erma McCoic, Julia Fanta, and Madge Kaukl; and several cousins. She is survived by her husband, Jack, and her son, David, both of La Farge; her sister, Carol (Steve) Subera of Colby, Wisconsin; her sister-in-law, Helen Burton of Janesville, Minnesota; and many close nieces and nephews and their children.
There will be a visitation starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the Seland-Huston Funeral Home in La Farge and a celebration of her life at 1 p.m. After the service, everyone is invited to the farm for a picnic to enjoy the beautiful Kickapoo Valley. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests donations to the La Farge library’s building fund or the charity of your choice.
Darlene’s family would also like to thank Dr. James DeLine; the staffs at the La Farge Medical Clinic, Bethel Home, and Bland-Bekkedal Hospice; and the family’s wonderful friends and neighbors in Tunnelville for their support and loving care.
The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements. prattfuneralservice.com
