Irene Elizabeth Schlapkohl Schulz was born Dec. 8, 1924, in Alexandria, S.D. and passed at her home in Carson City Dec. 1, 2009. Her family lived for a time in Browns Valley, Minn. before moving to the West.
The tenth of eleven children, Irene is survived by her sister, Ethel Kinkel, and brother, Charles Schlapkohl.
One of Irene's first jobs was working at the Shell Service Station on North Carson Street. During this time she met and married her husband, Ray Schulz, who preceded her in death in June 2009. Irene defied all odds surviving a brain aneurism in 1990 to give her and her husband 62 wonderful years together!
Irene is survived by her three children Julie, John, and Jeff, daughter-in-law Tammi, grandchildren Telsche Saunders, Rhiannon and Shilo Richards, and Jessica Schulz, great-grandchild Britney Richards, sister-in-law Helen Gifford, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as caregivers Brenda Smith and Carol Loyd and new friend Julia Jones.
An accomplished seamstress, Irene taught 4-H sewing to numerous students. She was also a terrific cook, reading cookbooks like most people read novels. Whenever things would get too quiet she would throw a party demonstrating her skills and surrounding herself with family and friends.
She has joined her husband on the cloud he's had reserved for them.
A Memorial Mass will be 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14 in the chapel at St. Theresa's Catholic Church.