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Irene Swenka
IRENE SWENKA
Greeley
Irene Mathilda (Scholbrock) Swenka, 89, of Greeley, died May 26, 2016, at Strawberry Point Lutheran Nursing Home.
Irene was born May 3, 1927, in Calmar Township near Calmar, the daughter of Herman and Regina (Thuente) Scholbrock. The family farmed near Wadena. She graduated from Fayette High School in 1946. On Oct. 20, 1947, she married Theadale (Ted) P. Swenka at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wadena. Ted preceded Irene in death on April 13, 2008. They farmed near Randalia until moving in 1957 to a farm near Greeley, where she lived out her life.
Irene enjoyed gardening, making bread, sewing, rug weaving, family gatherings and being a grandma and great-grandma.
Irene's family includes a son, Paul (Jane) Swenka of Greeley; daughters, Patricia Swenka of Dundee, Ruth (Bob) Ham of Jacksonville, Fla., and Alice (John) Vontalge of Epworth; grandchildren, Robert (Elisia) Swenka of Manchester, Kathy (Jason) Smith of Holy Cross, Mike Beswick of Lacey, Wash., and Tanner and Jordan Vontalge of Epworth; four great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; sister, Rita Manderfield of West Union; and sisters-in-law, Mary Scholbrock of Rice Lake, Wis., and Angeline Russell and Jeanne Swenka, both of Iowa City.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ted; grandson, Timothy Swenka; a son-in-law, Illes Bognar; and brothers, Herbert and Walter.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Strawberry Point Lutheran Home.
Irene's family would like to thank all the staff at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home and St. Croix Hospice for her care.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Edgewood, by the Rev. John Haugen. A time of food and fellowship will be held at St. Mark's Parish Center immediately following the Mass. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Edgewood, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. Scripture service. Friends also may call from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Interment:
2 p.m. Monday, May 30, at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, rural Colesburg.
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