Susan Irlbeck
August 7, 1948 — January 3, 2023
Susan Jane Irlbeck, daughter of Harold and Louisa (Claussen) Linde, was born on August 7, 1948 in Carroll, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm outside of Breda, Iowa with her 7 siblings. She graduated with the class of 1966 from Wall Lake High School. After graduation, Sue attended St. Anthony School of Nursing in Carroll where she earned her LPN and was soon hired by St. Anthony Hospital. While working as a nurse, a patient by the name of Allen Irlbeck asked her out on a date. A short time later, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Sue worked as a nurse at Clarkson and Bergan Hospitals. On April 19, 1969, Sue was united in marriage to Allen Irlbeck at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha.
After being drafted in 1969, Al enlisted into the Army and was part of the Army Security Agency. The couple was stationed at Fort Devens in Shirley, Massachusetts. While at Fort Devens, they welcomed their son James Robert into the world. Al was then stationed in Tuntenhausen, Germany, and was later moved to Augsburg, Germany. Sue and Jim followed Al to Germany and the family lived in an off-base apartment until 1974. Sue and Jim returned back to Sue’s family farm to live with her parents and siblings for four months until Al was honorably discharged.
The family moved to Shelby, Iowa where Sue worked as a nurse at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan. The family moved to Avoca in 1977 and Al started Avoca Building Material Center. Sue worked full time at the hospital and part time at Avoca Building for two years. She then decided to help Al and become full time at Avoca Building. Sue became Al’s right-hand man using her farm girl initiative. Sue learned on the fly and could step into any role, as needed. She worked at Avoca Building for the next 36 years, where she spread her contagious smile to everyone she encountered, until she retired in 2015.
Sue was a true warrior and battled everything that was thrown her way. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. After a prolonged battle, she beat it. Through everything, she always kept her faith and cherished every moment of life. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca.
Sue enjoyed the simple pleasures. Each day started with a morning walk and ended with a nightly read. Sue spent tons of time outdoors, and she always raved about the sunshine. The riding lawn mower was one of her favorite toys. Oftentimes, she’d run multiple passes over the same area of grass just because she enjoyed being out there. That was the farm girl in her.
Nothing was more important to Sue than her family. In 2016, Al suffered a massive heart attack and was hospitalized for 50 days in Omaha. Sue drove to Omaha all 50 days to be by Al’s side and continued to be his caregiver throughout his recovery.
If she wasn’t busy with her family in Avoca, you knew she would be on the phone with her sister, Gail. Grandma Sue was a big kid at heart, and she loved to play in the sandbox or take the grandkids to the playground. Even as her knees wore out, she still found a way to make it to the floor to play with her great-grandchildren, just so she could be right there with them.
In 2018, Sue’s cancer returned. She battled fiercely until her body could battle no more. Sue’s spirit was returned home to the Lord on January 3, 2023, attaining the age of 74 years, 4 months and 27 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister Mary Kay Snell.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 53 years, Allen Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; son James Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; 4 grandchildren: Darrian (Lisa) Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; Alexis Irlbeck of Manilla, Iowa; Adrian and Ariel Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; 2 great-grandchildren: Evalyn and Ivan Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; siblings Barb (Rennie) Weinbrandt of Davenport, Iowa; Gail Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Dennis (Sharon) Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Bette (Tim) Habhab of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Bruce (Molly) Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Renee (Bruce) Bierstadt of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
After being drafted in 1969, Al enlisted into the Army and was part of the Army Security Agency. The couple was stationed at Fort Devens in Shirley, Massachusetts. While at Fort Devens, they welcomed their son James Robert into the world. Al was then stationed in Tuntenhausen, Germany, and was later moved to Augsburg, Germany. Sue and Jim followed Al to Germany and the family lived in an off-base apartment until 1974. Sue and Jim returned back to Sue’s family farm to live with her parents and siblings for four months until Al was honorably discharged.
The family moved to Shelby, Iowa where Sue worked as a nurse at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan. The family moved to Avoca in 1977 and Al started Avoca Building Material Center. Sue worked full time at the hospital and part time at Avoca Building for two years. She then decided to help Al and become full time at Avoca Building. Sue became Al’s right-hand man using her farm girl initiative. Sue learned on the fly and could step into any role, as needed. She worked at Avoca Building for the next 36 years, where she spread her contagious smile to everyone she encountered, until she retired in 2015.
Sue was a true warrior and battled everything that was thrown her way. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. After a prolonged battle, she beat it. Through everything, she always kept her faith and cherished every moment of life. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca.
Sue enjoyed the simple pleasures. Each day started with a morning walk and ended with a nightly read. Sue spent tons of time outdoors, and she always raved about the sunshine. The riding lawn mower was one of her favorite toys. Oftentimes, she’d run multiple passes over the same area of grass just because she enjoyed being out there. That was the farm girl in her.
Nothing was more important to Sue than her family. In 2016, Al suffered a massive heart attack and was hospitalized for 50 days in Omaha. Sue drove to Omaha all 50 days to be by Al’s side and continued to be his caregiver throughout his recovery.
If she wasn’t busy with her family in Avoca, you knew she would be on the phone with her sister, Gail. Grandma Sue was a big kid at heart, and she loved to play in the sandbox or take the grandkids to the playground. Even as her knees wore out, she still found a way to make it to the floor to play with her great-grandchildren, just so she could be right there with them.
In 2018, Sue’s cancer returned. She battled fiercely until her body could battle no more. Sue’s spirit was returned home to the Lord on January 3, 2023, attaining the age of 74 years, 4 months and 27 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister Mary Kay Snell.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 53 years, Allen Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; son James Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; 4 grandchildren: Darrian (Lisa) Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; Alexis Irlbeck of Manilla, Iowa; Adrian and Ariel Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; 2 great-grandchildren: Evalyn and Ivan Irlbeck of Avoca, Iowa; siblings Barb (Rennie) Weinbrandt of Davenport, Iowa; Gail Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Dennis (Sharon) Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Bette (Tim) Habhab of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Bruce (Molly) Linde of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Renee (Bruce) Bierstadt of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
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