Irene Mathis

IRENE MATHIS

Coggon

Irene Mathis, 98, a resident of Garnett Place, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Coggon, died Friday, June 6, 2014, at the assisted living home. Funeral service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by Pastor Jen Filter. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 9, at the funeral home in Marion. Burial: Palo Cemetery.

Irene was born April 3, 1916, to Albert and Pearl Railsback near Palo. Irene married John Mathis on June 26, 1937, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. John died March 12, 1994. Irene and John farmed in the Coggon area for many years. She milked cows and raised chickens, using the money from selling their eggs to buy the groceries. She often spoke of cooking for the threshing crews. Just a few days ago, she was asking if the corn and beans had been planted, and if they were growing. For the past 13 years, Irene enjoyed her Garnett Place family. She loved to play Bingo and was always winning prizes.

She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Survivors include her son, Norman (JoAnn) Mathis of Marion; granddaughters, Lisa (Rob) Sherwood of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Lori (Alan) Hilgerson of West Des Moines; great-grandchildren, Nickolas and Emma Sherwood and Alexander and Paige Hilgerson; sister, Alberta Minor; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters, Esther Railsback, Ora Volz and Aletha Stodola.

A very special thank you to Lee and the staff at Garnett Place for their loving care and to Unity Point Hospice for their recent care.

Please sign the online guest book for Irene at www.murdochfuneral home.com under obituaries.