Darlene McMullen lives in Prentice, Wisconsin. She was born and raised in Catawba, Wisconsin, the second oldest of seven children. Darlene graduated from Phillips High School in 1969. On October 10, 1970, she married the love of her life, Larry McMullen, who was born and raised in Phillips, Wisconsin.
Larry & Darlene lived in Phillips for the first 5 1/2 years of their marriage but moved to the Milwaukee area in 1976. They had four children, (three girls and one boy). Unfortunately, in 2003, Larry passed on from a massive heart attack at the age of 56.
Two years after Larry’s death, in 2005, Darlene decided to move back to the area. With a daughter and her family living in Hawkins at the time, Darlene felt it was time to come home. Now her life is filled with the joy of 5 grandchildren, (4 granddaughters and one grandson), who are the loves of her life.
“My children and grandchildren bring me so much happiness,” Darlene told us. “I love spending time with them, and I love when my grandkids spend the night with me. Being with family makes my heart swell with joy.”
It is evident that Darlene enjoys her family very much given that her favorite vacation includes them. “My favorite vacation was camping out on my land in Phillips, because I was camping with my grandchildren. There is no electricity and no running water, but we had so much fun four wheeling, having campfires, and relaxing. We will be doing it as often as we can this summer.”
We asked Darlene if she had any advice for young people who are interested in pursuing one of their major goals, and she replied, “I would say...go for it! Do the best you can, try your hardest, and whether you succeed or not, at least you tried and that is what is important. You will never look back and say, 'I wish I would have done this’ or ‘I wish I would have done that,' and you will never regret trying.” With that advice in mind, it is no wonder that Darlene’s favorite quote is, “You reap what you sow.” Darlene elaborated, “We are all responsible for our actions. No one else is to blame for what we say or do. Blaming someone else is immature and childish.”
Darlene likes to live by the motto, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Expanding upon the Golden Rule, Darlene explained, “If I want someone to treat me with kindness and respect, I have to do the same to them, and that is how it should be. There is nothing wrong with being kind and considerate.”
Darlene said that if she could impart one bit of wisdom to the next generation, it would be to “Enjoy every second of every day, because time waits for no one. I remember when I couldn't wait to turn 18 and graduate from high school....and I turned around and I am 65!”
Darlene retired from Phillips Plating in 2011 and now does cleaning as a part-time job a couple days per week. This schedule allows her more time for one of her favorite hobbies, which is reading. “When I am reading, I visualize what I am reading about and it relaxes me,” shared Darlene.
“To sum me up,” Darlene closed our interview, “I lead a very simple life, I love spending as much time with my family as I can, and I thank God every day when I wake up!”
If you would like to nominate someone for a “Spotlight” interview, including yourself, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person’s name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number.
Laci Schuh is the owner of The Dreamer Boutique located at 126 North Lake Avenue in downtown Phillips, Wisconsin, which opened in January of 2016. She holds a Fashion Marketing degree from MATC in Madison, Wisconsin. Laci does not have any siblings or children, and she is currently single.
In our Spotlight interview, we try to ask unique questions that may provoke some interesting and introspective answers. Based on our questions, Laci shared the following narrative with us:
I grew up in Phillips, Wisconsin, and then I moved to Madison for 4 years for college. After graduation, I moved to Boulder, Colorado for 2 years and then decided to move to the West Coast! I lived in Santa Cruz, California for a year and half, and then I moved up to Portland, Oregon for 2 years. Since I missed California, I moved back down to San Francisco for 2 years, Marin County for another 2 years, and up in gold country for 2 more years before I finally came home! It is so nice to not have to move all my belongings around anymore! It was fun but a lot of work!
My biggest contribution to Price County is opening up my boutique, The Dreamer Boutique. After working in retail for others my whole adult life, I could actually afford to open my own shop here. It brings eclectic items you couldn't find in Phillips before, and I have been welcomed with open arms! I’m so grateful!
What I would most like to see in Price County is more live music and entertainment as that's what I've been accustomed to seeing everywhere else I've lived the last eighteen years. It is one of my biggest passions and most frequent pastime. Today I spoke with the new owner of a popular bar downtown, and he said he plans to expand the courtyard they have a few buildings down from my store. They plan to set up a stage for bands so it looks like the possibility is arising!
I would suggest young people move to this area, because it's so affordable and beautiful in the spring, summer, and fall, because it’s surrounded by lakes. It gets cold in the winter, but there are still plenty of outdoor activities to do year-round. There are a lot of fun and friendly people here, but it would be great to get more people my age back here to help revive the city. There are a ton of work opportunities, too!
My favorite vacation destinations I've been to are the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Jamaica, because I like the laid back vibes, the ocean, and the beautiful, warm weather. I hope to go to more tropical places sooner than later as I love to travel and see new places and cultures.
My biggest wish is for world peace and all beings to be free of suffering.
If I had two minutes to grab something from my home before it was destroyed it would be my precious dog, Lollypop, because she is my prized possession. She has brought me so much joy, and I love her with my whole heart.
My “guiding light” is my mother. She deserves a standing ovation not only because she went through some tragedies in her life and still did a great job raising me, but because she has worked the same job at Phillips Plating for 40 years as of this year. Bravo, Mom! When I couldn't find my way, and had my heart broken multiple times, she showed me I can still accomplish my dreams.
My mottos for life are, “Don't sweat the small stuff,” “Any given moment can change your life,” “Everything will work out the way it's supposed to,” “Find what you love and go for it,” and “Love doesn't make the world go round, but it sure makes the ride worthwhile!”
We thank Laci for being our first “Spotlight: People of Price County.” Stop into Laci’s shop and let her know you saw her “Spotlight.” If you would like to nominate someone, including yourself, to be interviewed, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person’s name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number. Our next “Spotlight” will be someone from Prentice or Park Falls. Stay tuned!
