Caren Darla Nicholl

Caren “Darla” Nicholl was born June 3, 1938, in her grandfather’s house in Minnesota. The second of five children to Carl and Inez Noto, she grew up in Beloit, WI. Her mother taught her to sew and she made clothes for her dolls, her mother and sister (and daughter).

She was adventurous and became an airline stewardess where she met Dennis Kane, for whom she gave up her traveling career to be married in 1960. Dennis and Darla settled in Mundelein, IL and had one daughter, Vicki.

In 1964, they moved to Southern California to search for new adventures, which included Darla winning big on “Let’s Make A Deal”!

Darla worked to help put Dennis through flight school and fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot. They co-owned a flight school, where Darla worked even after she and Dennis were divorced in 1972.

In 1977, Darla sold her Fountain Valley home. She and Vicki became “gypsies” for the summer, looking for a new place to reside. They moved to Riverside and Darla joined the Gas Company workforce. She then found a love for golf. And during a visit with a friend for a golf weekend, she met Ken Nicholl, a good man, handy with power tools and blessed with a green thumb. (And his mother was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Darla’s home church.)

Married in 1981, Ken and Darla spent many years working on remodeling their home, checking out golf courses and drinking beer! Ken passed away in 2005, after a battle with cancer.

After Ken’s death, Darla continued with her love for golf and her walk of faith. She traveled to the Ukraine on a mission trip and to Israel for a Holy Land tour.

In 2014, Darla was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Her move to Vivante was a blessing in disguise as she was cared for by their fabulous staff until August 30, 2017, when she joined our Lord and met Ken for another round of golf.

Darla is survived by:

Siblings: Dennis (Barbara) Noto, David (Anna) Noto, Diane (Ernie) Riesen and Duane (Diana) Noto

Daughter Vicki (Mike) Kane-Gaczkowski

Many loving Nieces and Nephews

“Grandsons”: Taylor Hoorebeke & Christo Hoorebeke

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