Darleen Gillespie

Darleen Gillespie, age 86, of Englewood, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at home, surrounded by family. She was born on June 14, 1940, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Robert E. and Beatrice L. (Ohlin) Anson.

Darleen was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Richard Ohlin, Tanya Meadows, David Anson, and Robert Anson Jr.; her granddaughter, Brooke Gillespie; and her son, Daniel Gillespie.

She is survived by the love of her life and husband of 68 years, Donald Gillespie; her children, Rhonda (James) Steck of Parchment, MI, Russell Gillespie of Battle Creek, MI, Donnette (Gary) VanderMeer of Kalamazoo, MI, and Randell (Shelley) Gillespie of Belvidere, IL; 19 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Darleen grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she and Don resided with their family until moving to Ohio in 1984. Darleen will be remembered for her deep faith, devotion to family, hospitality, and effervescent personality. Tenacious, curious, and fiercely loyal, she had a gift for making others feel seen and loved. She cherished times with friends and family at home in Ohio or at the cottage on Silver Lake in Michigan.

She was known for the best biscuits and sausage gravy you ever ate, yodeling, collecting every kitchen gadget invented, challenging her grandchildren to fierce videogame competitions, and owning nearly every Apple product ever made. She had an insatiable desire to learn--from playing guitar to tole painting--and possessed the most infectious laugh you ever heard. Above all, Darleen loved her Savior, Jesus Christ--as evidenced over the years as a Sunday School teacher, Bible quiz coach, and choir member; as an advocate for Daniel through involvement with the Tourette Association of America; through her relentless love for her husband and all of her children and grandchildren; and in the way she naturally wove the gospel into everyday interactions with those around her.

Although Darleen's presence--her encouragement, her wisdom, her humor, her incomparable hugs--will be deeply missed by family and loved ones, they grieve with hope, confident in the promise that, through faith in Christ, they will see her again some sweet day.

The family will receive friends from 4:00–7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Hale-Sarver Family Funeral Home, 284 N. Miami St., West Milton, Ohio. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Northeastern Baptist Church, 6536 E. G Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49048. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 am, with burial afterward at Day Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. A luncheon will follow at Northeastern Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Southland Christian Ministries in Ringgold, Louisiana. Online memories may be shared at www.hale-sarver.com.