J. Darling ‘Darlin’ (Wallace) Elsner

J. Darling “Darlin” (Wallace) Elsner, 71, of Anna, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born on Jan. 3, 1952, in Granite City, the daughter of Ray Eldon and Betty May Thomason Wallace. 

She met the love of her life while she was working as a carhop at John’s Drive-In in Venice, and she and William Dean Elsner were married on March 30, 1973, in Granite City. He preceded her in death on Sept. 9, 2016.

She is survived by her children, Mark (Patti) Elsner of Greenfield, Tenn., Noah (Heather) Elsner of Jackson, Tenn., Michael (Debra) Elsner of Glenallen, Mo., Steven (Jamie) Elsner of Cypress, Phillip (Teresa) Elsner of Carbondale, Becky (Paul) Gibbs of Evansville, Ind., and Danny (Dawn) Anderton of Collinsville; 23 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Mildred Aldridge of Cahokia, Joe (Linda) Wallace of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Charles Wallace of Clarksville, Tenn.; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a grandson, Will Elsner; and three siblings, Jimmy Ray Wallace, Mary Mogg and John David Wallace.

She enjoyed many things, such as crocheting, watching the hummingbirds and recording the weather. She loved her family and loved riding the rails with her husband when he worked for Amtrak.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Darlin Elsner will be held at a later date. Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is assisting the family with arrangements.

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.