Darlene Mae Frans

Darlene M. Frans, born July 15, 1928, died September 10, 2025. Darlene, 97 years old, of Omaha, Nebraska, died Wednesday, September 10, 2025, and was the third-born of four siblings: Dale, Cleora, Donna, and Kenny, to Henry Kuhlman and Maggie (Schmidt) at their family farm outside of Memphis, Nebraska.

Darlene attended a one room school house near their family farm until seventh grade and then on to Ashland high school graduating in 1945. While in high school she was an awarded Whistler. She went on to study “hairdressing” and was certified in 1946 as a cosmetologist at Capital Beauty School (now Capital School of Hairstyling and Aesthetics in Omaha, where her great-granddaughter, Bailey, also graduated 60+ years after Darlene). Darlene, the ‘Beauty Operator’, practiced her skills on her mother, sisters, daughters, and son.

In 1947 she married Jim G. Hendricksen in Kansas City, and then moved to Spencer, Iowa near the Iowan Hendricksen clan. Their first daughter, Jeanne was born in 1947 in Spencer and the threesome lived on a small farm outside Spencer. Daughter Janice and son Jim were born in 1948 and 1950 in Omaha, Nebraska, where Darlene, Jim and Jeanne had relocated. For most of their family life, they would live in Omaha with only six years living in Southern California. Darlene and Jim divorced in 1975.

In 1976 Darlene married Jack Frans in Omaha; they were married 41years until his death in 2017.

She was a faithful stay-at-home mom most of her life with the exception of working one year in her trade as a hairdresser. Then later in life she worked several decades as a checker at Baker’s grocery store. She enjoyed cooking, canning, baking; but, mostly she loved taking care of her house and kids. She also enjoyed the New York Times crossword puzzles, bingo and collecting recipes. Other favs included eating out and critiquing each meal. She and Jack loved sitting outside on their covered patio watching birds and the neighbors!

Darlene was preceded in death by her brother Dale; father and mother Henry and Maggie; sisters Cleora and Donna and their husbands; first and second husbands Jim Hendricksen and Jack Frans; daughter Jeanne Lind; and great -granddaughter Faith Enderle.

Darlene is survived by son and daughter-in-law Jim and Barb Hendricksen; and daughter and son-in-law Janice and Rob Francis; 7 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and one niece and six nephews and their families.

With gratefulness and sorrow, the family will lay her body to rest along side her husband at the Omaha National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please continue to show in word and deed, your kindness, love and generosity to family, friends, and strangers.

Braman Mortuary & Cremation Services, 6505 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68137 / 402-895-3400