Irene Bohlmann

Irene Bohlmann was born July 6, 1916, daughter of Fred W. and Christine M. (Bielfeldt) Kruse in Hanover Township, Crawford County, Iowa. She died Friday evening, June 13, 2008, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison at the age of 91. Irene was baptized September 3, 1916 by the Rev. C. Runge at St. Paul?s Lutheran parsonage, Hanover Township and was confirmed April 13, 1930 at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison by the Rev. Wm. Frese. Her class was the first class to be confirmed in Zion Lutheran?s new church. Irene grew up on the family farm west of Denison where she attended rural school and also Zion Lutheran School. She graduated from Denison High School in 1934 where she was high school treasurer her Senior year under Supt. L. P. Sewell. After graduation, she taught in the rural school of Charter Oak #3 for two years and then in Hanover #1 for six years. Many of her students of the rural schools have kept in contact through all these years with her. After teaching, she was employed as bookkeeper for Mr. Ted Port at the Park Motel and Port?s Standard Service in Denison. On February 14, 1943 Irene was united in marriage to Raymond H. Bohlmann of Charter Oak at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison by the Rev. C. W. Schmidt. They farmed northwest of Charter Oak until March of 1950 when they moved to a farm north of Manning which they had purchased. After the death of her husband in July, 1967, Irene moved to Denison in January, 1968. She started working January 2 in the County Assessor?s Office to help through the busy season. After being employed there for seven months she was employed by Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Nelson at Nelson?s Western Store. She worked there for 14 years and then retired. While living at Manning, Irene was a member of the Homemaker?s Club for nearly 16 years. She had been a member of the Crawford County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary since moving to Denison. Irene helped organize the Temporary Aid Program after she retired from Nelson?s Store. She served on the board of T.A.P. for a number of years and was also a volunteer worker there. She has been very active in keeping in close contact with her high school classmates of 1934. Irene was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison where she and her husband served many years on the financial committee with other members of Zion. She always enjoyed working with her flowers and doing lawn work as long as she was able. She also enjoyed crafts, especially counted crosstitch. Irene was preceded in death by her husband in July, 1967, her parents, a brother, Raymond, in infancy, two sisters, Inez K. Barnes and Elva J. Marten, a brother, Vern F. Kruse, a nephew, Thomas Kent Barnes, brother-in-law, Raymond Marten and sister-in-law, Lucille, Mrs. Vern Kruse. She is survived by a brother-in-law, Bud Barnes of Denison, nephew Verdean Kruse and wife, Linda of Ida Grove, niece Jean Barnes Warren and husband, Delmar of Liberty, Missouri, three great nephews, Todd Kruse and wife, Jaleh of Apple Valley, Minnesota and their children, Kara and Brandon, Troy Kruse and wife, Melissa of Ida Grove and their children, Lindsey, Mahala and John and Carl W. Warren of Spring Hill, Kansas, sister-in-law, Opal, (Mrs. Vern) Kruse of Hancock, Iowa and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. The Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiated at the services and graveside rites held at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Karen Kahl provided organ accompaniment for soloist, Eldon Hardekopf singing "How Great Thou Art" and congregational hymns, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" and "I?m But A Stranger Here, Heaven Is My Home". Honorary pallbearers include Ronny and Lois Frahm, Richard and Shirley Vipond, Craig and Luann Langel, Lowell and Lois Stribe, Dan and Pam Marten and Ralph and Barb Greder. Pallbearers were Carl W. Warren, Todd Kruse, Troy Kruse, Randy Kruse, Allan Gierstorf, Sr. and James Bielfeldt. Following the graveside rites all were invited to return to the church and join the family for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the Zion Dorcas Society. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , in Denison was in charge of arrangements.