Irwin Friedrich

Rock Rapids, Iowa Irwin W. Friedrich, age 88 of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday, October 11, 2013 at the Dougherty Hospice House of Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids with Rev. Mark Hanson officiating. Burial will follow at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Larchwood, IA. Visitation will be Monday, October 14th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids, IA. Irwin W. Friedrich was born March 28, 1925 in Aurora, South Dakota to Wilhelm and Lydia (Hinkeldey) Friedrich. He received his formal education at Country School #6 near Aurora, but was a lifelong learner. On June 7, 1958 he was united in marriage to Agnes Kerkvliet at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood. For the first few years the couple made their home near Aurora before moving to their present farm place near Lester on March 1, 1960. As a lifelong farmer, he greatly enjoyed working alongside his sons and neighbors. Along with farming, he sold seed corn for 40 years, worked for ASCS for 25 years and drove school bus for 24 years. Irwin also worked for the government doing statistical reporting for the farming industry. Irwin was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. In their younger years, the couple enjoyed dancing and traveling. They toured Europe and most of the 50 states. More than anything else, Irwin loved his family. They will all hold special memories of him. Among his accomplishments are planting groves of trees on the acreage, teaching his grandkids card games, and keeping a daily journal for over 50 years. He was gratified that a son took over the family farm, and that he passed along his fondness of rollerskating to his kids, and the following generation as well. Irwin was indeed a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Agnes of Rock Rapids; son, Fr. Jim Friedrich of Woonsocket, SD; son, Lloyd (Ivone) Friedrich of Lavras, Brazil; daughter, Jayne (Mike) Koch of Sioux City, IA; son, Lyle Friedrich of Rock Rapids, IA; and daughter, Jackie (Faez) AlSaffar of Storm Lake, IA; grandchildren, Becky, Annie, and John Koch of Sioux City, IA; Katarina and Daniel Friedrich of Brazil; and Evie AlSaffar of Storm Lake, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Wilmer Friedrich, sisters, Verna Friedrich and Marilyn Hillestad.