Irene Gottschall, age 106, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa died Monday, July 4, 2016 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Sioux Rapids.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will follow in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Irene Mae Gottschall was born May 13, 1910 near Sioux Rapids, Iowa to Clyde and Laura (Hadenfeldt) Blount. She attended school at Cornell and Sioux Rapids, graduating valedictorian of the Sioux Rapids class of 1927. She went to Buena Vista College for her B.A. degree, graduating in 1931. After graduation she kept books at Cutt’s Greenhouse in Storm Lake for five years. In 1936, she began teaching in the junior high school at Remsen and was the first girls’ basketball coach in 1941. While there, she learned to bowl and her team of teachers had a great time in league, tri-state, and state tournaments. She also taught school at South Clay School District as a junior high teacher and librarian for seven years.

Irene was united in marriage to Ward E. Gottschall in the Congregational Church at Pomona, California in 1942, where Ward was serving in the U.S. Army. After the war ended, they farmed near Sioux Rapids and Cornell. They moved to Webb and farmed for 19 years before moving back to the family farm north of Sioux Rapids in 1975. Two daughters, Joanne Marie and Gayla Rae, were born to this union.

Irene was baptized and was a member of the Sioux Rapids Congregational Church, which later became the First United Church. She was active on missions and held various offices in Women’s Fellowship. She joined the Woman’s Study Club in 1944, receiving her 50 year membership in 1994, remaining a member until her death. Irene had numerous hobbies: bowling, square dancing, fishing, reading, lots of quilting, sewing, needlework, crocheting afghans, shuffle board, socializing with friends, traveling and playing cards. She was one terrific bridge player.

Irene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She loved visiting with people and making friends. She served as Secretary/Treasurer of the North West Iowa Trail Riders for many years. She was also a 4-H leader at Webb. She and Ward enjoyed wintering in Corpus Christi, Texas for several years. Irene joined the Jolly Elders in 1999. In January 2010, at the age of 99, she developed health problems that forced her to give up independent living on the farm and move to the Sioux (Hawkeye) Care Center in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where she resided until her death. In May 2016, Irene celebrated her 106th birthday with a party at the Care Center.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents: Clyde and Laura; sister, Mildred Blount; daughter, Gayla Lindsey; and husband, Ward. Those who will always love, honor, and cherish her memory include her daughter, Joanne (Curtis) Sachau of Charter Oak, Iowa; five grandchildren: Craig Sachau of Waynesville, Missouri; Christi (Brian) Norton of Millard, Nebraska; Clint (Tina) of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; Tracie (Tom) Gray of Sturgis, South Dakota; Tonya (Clint) Mercy of Sturgis, South Dakota; six great-grandchildren: Christopher (Roberta) Baldwin; Shawn Baldwin; Nathan and Kristen Cowell; Kelsie, Mackenzie and Kaeden Norton, and Micah Sachau. Her great-great grandchildren are Foster and Kinley Baldwin.

Irene’s family would like to gratefully acknowledge the loving care and friendship given to her by the employees and residents while she made her home at the Sioux (Hawkeye) Care Center.

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