Irene Mary Leinen

Sibley, Iowa Irene Leinen age 87 of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Monday, April 30, 2012 at the St. Andrews Catholic Church in Sibley, with Father John Vakulskas as celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation will be Sunday, April 29th from 2-6 PM with the family present from 4-6 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. There will be a rosary at 3 PM and a vigil service at 5:30 PM Sunday evening. Irene Mary Leinen was born on August 7, 1924, the daughter of Emil and Margaret (Gaul) Hansen in Lismore, MN. She attended grade school in Oyens, Iowa. On September 9, 1947, she was united in marriage to Florian Stoffel and following his death in 1972 she married Walter Leinen on February 19, 1982 in Sibley, Iowa. Irene worked as a daycare provider out of her home for a while, then worked for Sibley Egg & Poultry and later Merrick Printing (now Keith M. Merrick Company) and retired from there after seventeen years. She was a member of the St. Andrew's Catholic Church, where she was active in the Catholic Daughters and Women's Guild. Irene was also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary. Irene had an extremely strong faith and met all of life's challenges without fear. She was a hard worker and always seemed to be busy doing something. Irene really enjoyed people, loved to fish, travel, and garden; do word puzzles, weave rugs and crochet. Left to cherish her memory are her four children, Nancy (Arthur) VanBruggen of Boyden, IA, Jean VandeGarde of Katy, TX, Becky (Stan) McAndrews of Ames, IA and Nick (Debbie) Stoffel of Inola, OK; nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; six siblings, Jerome Hansen of LeMars, IA, Emil Hansen Jr. of Slayton, MN, Mary Ann Streff of Slayton, MN, Rita Pottebaum of Yuba City, CA, Mildred Gearke of LeMars, IA, and Sister Margaret Hansen of Auburn Hills, MI; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Florian Stoffel; second husband, Walter Leinen; very special adopted grandson, Samuel Harris Kruger; and seven siblings, Cletus Hansen, Alfred Hansen, Gerald Hansen, Lawrence Hansen, Ambrose Hansen, Leonard Hansen and Delores Ludwig.