Dorothy Darlene Van Winkle

It is with sadness of heart that we are announcing the passing of Dorothy Darlene Van Winkle, 81.

Darlene passed away peacefully on July 18th, 2026, in her home with loved ones all around her. Her battle was with cancer which she fought bravely.

Darlene was born in Newark, Ohio on February 5th, 1945, to the parents of Eleanor (Ogilbee) Messina and Joseph Messina. She attended Newark High School and lived most of her adult life in her hometown. In her younger years she worked in retail sales and later operated an appliance repair business.

If you ever visited her home, you would find most everything in its proper place. You would be greeted by pictures and figurines of cats of the wild, along with a variety of bird houses and snowmen. You may find her in her backyard mowing or planting flowers.

Darlene was considered by many to be spunky, strong-willed and hard-working, who loved to laugh.

She is survived by her children, Lynn Ellen (Van Winkle) Pettit, Mark Anthony Van Winkle, Tammy Nannette (Van Winkle) Haynes (Ike), and Michelle Darlene (Van Winkle) Mounts (David); grandchildren, Miranda Susan Spicer (Aaron), Brooke Nichole Sharrer (John Homberg), Daniel Raymond Pettit (Jennifer), Alexander Cole Brooks (Natasha Bowen), Sarah Elizabeth (Brooks) Stetzer (Marc), James Clayton Peck (Breanna Mitchell), and LaVanna (Hamrick/VanWinkle) Harshfield (Jason); great grandchildren, Caden Pettit, Skylar Sharrer, Kyndall Spicer, Kole Spicer, Johnathan Lawrence, Kavien Jackson, Abbigail Lawrence, Delanie Pettit, Roman Pettit, Karsyn Pettit, Bailey Peck, James Peck, Adaline Elizabeth Stetzer (Coming in December), Jeremiah Harshfield, and Olivia Harshfield; great-great-grandchild, JJ Harshfield; siblings, David Ross Messina (Gerry Zaebst), Mary Starling Messina, Cheryl Rae (Messina) Woltgen (Fred), Earl Lowell Messina, Carla Jo Messina (Jeff Snedeker), Gary Mark Messina, and Joe Messina; brother in-law, David Bisbey, and numerous amount of nieces and nephews

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her life, John Joseph Kaseman; siblings, Rozzi Joseph Messina, William (Billy) Clarence Messina, Orlan Francis (Bunch) Messina, and Rhoda Marie (Messina) Dunlap; sister-in-law, Ginny (Kaercher) Messina, and grandsons Michael Anthony Pettit and Brandon James Sharrer

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday July 22nd, 2026, at Moose Lodge #499 Shelter House, 235 W National Drive in Newark, Ohio from 5pm to 8pm.

To order flowers locally, please visit www.johnedwardpriceflowers.com/

To order memorial gifts please visit memorial-gifts-at-brucker-kishler.myshopify.com/