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Alvina 'Skipper' Irving
ALVINA J. "SKIPPER" IRVING
Iowa City
Alvina J. "Skipper" Irving, 91, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at home surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at St. Patrick Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick Church or Iowa City Hospice.
Skipper was born on March 1, 1925, in Iowa City, the daughter of John and Juana (Perez) Gutierrez. The Gutierrez family was one of the first five Mexican families to establish the Mexican community in Iowa City, as early as 1921. Skipper was a graduate of St. Patrick's High School. On Oct. 7, 1950, she married Kenneth Irving at St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Skipper was employed in the dietary department at UIHC for more than 33 years, retiring in 1987.
Most important to Skipper was her family and her faith. She loved her husband, her daughters and their husbands, and her grandchildren. Skipper enjoyed time spent traveling, especially to Hawaii, Las Vegas and St. Louis, where she cheered on her beloved Cardinals. She loved wearing her apron and nurturing family and friends with her cooking, especially during the holidays when she baked dozens of cookies and stored them in her closet.
Skipper is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Ken; and their two daughters, Debra (Ken) Funk of Iowa City and Robin (Alan) Kratz of Valier, Mont.; her grandchildren, Cory (Renee) Funk and Ryan Funk; her brother and sisters-in-law, Jerry Irving, Barbara (Kenneth) Greiner and Delores Grauer; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Michael and John Gutierrez; her sisters, Josephine Mora, Letha Rogers and Dorothy Walton; and her beloved dachshunds, Red, Brandy and Rusty.
Online condolences may be made at www.lensingfuneral.com.
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