When Darlene Pohl, Assistant Director of The Funhouse and member of the Lighthouse Christian Center, died on Aug. 26, she left hundreds of Orcas Islanders with warm memories of a generous young woman characterized by a love for fun and for others.

She apparently suffered a heart attack on an airplane flight from California to Seattle, and despite resuscitation attempts by doctors on board the aircraft and at Highline Hospital in Burien, she succumbed while on life support equipment. Her family was at her side. The exact cause of her death is still undetermined.

Darlene was born in Illinois 33 years ago, and moved with her family – her mom Sandy, dad Harold and sister Debbie – to Chino, Calif. As a young teenager, Darlene’s family moved back to Freeport, Illinois. “She went from being a California girl to a farm girl,” said her sister Debbie.

In high school, she was a member of a drama club called “Dream” that prepared skits and performances to discourage kids from using drugs. She was a pom pom girl, played on the basketball team and was active in her church.

After graduating from high school, Darlene worked for a cruise ship line as Social Director in the Bahamas, and graduated form the Art Institute of Kansas City, Missouri.

She first came to Orcas Island to work for Four Winds sailing camp, where she was a counselor for two years. Then came a stint at Rosario as a Front Desk clerk and a job as sales manager with Christopher Peacock’s “Pure and Simple” music company for five years. Peacock said, “Darlene was probably the most positive person I know. Our nickname for her at Pure and Simple Music was “Fun Darlene.”

So when The Funhouse position opened, we thought it was the perfect job for her and encouraged Darlene to take the position, even though we’d miss working with her.”

Cheryl Jackson of Poppies said, “I worked with Darlene Pohl at the Funhouse in a volunteer capacity, and as the owner of the local yarn store, I helped her with knitting and crochet classes. I also have a 12-year-old daughter, so I spoke with Darlene at length about her thoughts on kids, especially pre-teen and teenage girls.

“Darlene’s outlook on life was wonderful. She had great moral character, and was such a good role model for our kids – showing them that you can be ‘cool’ and still have a very high standard for yourself.

My family is not particularly religious, so I appreciated her ability to put her faith and ideals in terms that all the girls could understand and relate to. Darlene was endlessly searching for opportunities to be with our kids and provide them a safe and sane environment; but mostly to be a great role model for them. My daughter remembers that Darlene was frequently at the school assemblies, involved in these kids’ lives in so many ways.

“I mourn her loss, and know that it will be impossible to replace her in our community. I will never forget her presence in our lives.”

“She loved the island,” her sister Debbie said, and her mom joined in, “She always said that on Orcas, she was where she was supposed to be.”

“We’ve been surprised by how many lives she touched. It’s been very comforting,” Debbie said.

Heather Stansbury, staff member of the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, worked with Darlene in this year’s Orcas Idol competition. Heather judged the Orcas Idolette competition, and Darlene emceed that event.

“She understood how to support the kids when they were trying to do something new. She helped bring out the girls’ courage in a perfect balance of competition and encouragement.”

In the adult competition Heather judged Darlene when she delivered “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in a performance rivaling Marilyn Monroe.

“Darlene embodied what the whole thing was about – sing something you love, dress up and take the full benefit of the stage to express yourself. She embodied the spirit of fun and cheer and self-expression and creativity.”

As a member of the Lighthouse Christian Center, Darlene taught Sunday school to kids ages four through 12. The owners of Teezer’s, who were very close to Darlene, remember that, among her other gifts, Darlene was an amazing drummer. She began playing at eight years old, and in addition to teaching drumming at The Funhouse and playing with Ken Speck’s “Orcatrazz” on occasion, Darlene played at the Lighthouse Center’s services.

She also brought her fun of games of all kinds to Lighthouse, organizing a Games Night for the 20- to 30-year-old members of the church.

“She was always happy, real gentle, very giving and so unselfish – very spirit-filled. I really believe the way she loved those kids at the Funhouse was God’s love working through her,” the owner of Teezer’s said.

“She was just a kid at heart. She loved to play games and watch cartoons.”

Darlene helped the Community Church when they took about 60 kids to camp, organizing the ice-breaker games and working with the kids.

Jim Bredouw, founder of The Funhouse, first met Darlene in 2003 when she volunteered to help with a claymation project with teenagers and worked with The Funhouse editing equipment to edit a video project for the TV series “Survivor.”

Then she volunteered to help with Teen Nights. Jeanne Beck, then Funhouse Director, was drawn to her energy with The Funhouse kids, Bredouw said – “She was so natural and helpful.”

Darlene soon began running the Front Office on Teen Night and then began working with the younger kids in the after-school program.

In 2006, when Pete Moe was hired as Director of The Funhouse, he found Darlene to be his right-hand and promoted her to Assistant Director.

“Darlene did everything with her heart,” said Bredouw. “There was no filter between what she thought was the right thing and her behavior.

“I don’t remember anybody having such immediate connection with the people who came into The Funhouse, whether they were tourists or teenagers or younger kids or their parents. She was as pure and generous a spirit as I have ever met. She’ll be completely impossible to replace.

“Our biggest concern is for the kids, many who looked to Darlene as a maternal figure and big sister.

“She made a huge impact on so many peoples’ lives. If the measure of a life well-lived is how much good you’ve done, she lived a long and full life.

“We loved Darlene.”

The Pohl family will be having services for Darlene in Illinois. The Lighthouse Christian Center and The Funhouse will have a memorial service for Darlene at a later date to be announced.