Irene was born June 20, 1917 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to John and Mary (Krogh) Nelson. She graduated from the Cedar Falls High School in 1935 and then the Iowa State Teacher’s College. She taught at the Sunny Side country school near Brandon, Iowa. She lived with a local family and it was then that she met her future husband, Norris Nielsen. On August 26, 1939 she married Norris at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls. Irene helped Norris on several different farms with milking cows and driving tractors. She also worked as the manager at the Swiss Colony cheese store in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. They moved to the Mabel, Minnesota area in 1981and has resided here since. Norris passed away February 5, 2008.
Irene was a member of the Mabel First Lutheran Church, and enjoyed dancing, fishing, picnics, family reunions, flowers, gardening, embroidering, counted cross stitch, card club, and cats.
Irene passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013 at the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel at the age of 95.
Irene is survived by nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norris, a sister Ethal Schneider, and her parents.
Funeral services will be 11 AM Monday, May 6, 2013 at the Mabel First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gail George officiating. Burial will be in the Quasqueton Cemetery in Quasqueton, Iowa. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. |
