Irene Florell

Funeral services for Irene Florell will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church in rural Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Todd Marcy, officiating. Interment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, following the service.

Irene Florell, 98 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  She was born on July 12, 1920 in Holdrege, the second of four girls born to Otto R. and Anna (Petersen) Schrader.  Irene received her education from Holdrege Public Schools.

On October 2, 1938, Irene was united in marriage to Edward Lloyd Florell, and to this union four children were born: Demoyne, Sharon, Ron and Randy.  The Florell family made their home north of Holdrege, where Ed farmed and fed cattle, and Irene ran the household and raised the children.

Life was hard when Irene was young.  Her mother passed when she was 3 years old while she was giving birth to a younger sister.  At this time, society didn't think a single father could raise a family so her new little sister was given up for adoption.  Irene and her sisters were placed in Christian Children's Home.  Once her dad remarried, Irene and her sisters were allowed to come home, but they never were reunited with their youngest sister.

During her 59 years of marriage to Edward, hard work and family were the staples of their relationship.  She made sure there was time for family vacations, usually to Colorado, but they would venture out to other place at times.  Edward and Irene enjoyed spending time with Edward's brother, Rusty and his wife, Arlene.  The two couples would take trips together and during retirement years they spent a lot of time in Arizona.

Irene believed in being prompt and always on time.  Irene lived by schedules: Monday was washing day, Tuesday was ironing day, Wednesday was hump day (yes, she coined it), Thursday hair day, Friday grocery shopping day, Saturday was spent getting ready for Sunday, and Sunday was church day.  Ed and Irene often spent Sunday afternoons going for a drive.  One thing the family learned early on was that you could not be late for meals.  Irene would tell Ed, he better be home at 6 pm or he wouldn't be fed—especially when mashed potatoes and gravy were involved – Irene didn't believe in eating these cold.

Irene loved to spend time with her family, and was blessed with two wonderful daughters-in-law:  Tootie; and Connie.  She looked forward to celebrating everyone's birthdays but her own.  To watch her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren open presents, and then serve them cake and ice cream was a special time for her.  She was especially excited and proud when her first great-great grandchild, Hayden Kennedy was born.  Five generations – what a blessing for her.

Edward and Irene were members of the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church, where Irene was active in WMS and White Cross.  She took a lot of pride in using her embroidery skills on tea towels.  She also attended monthly neighborhood club meetings, where many friendship bonds were formed.

After Edward's death on May 2, 1997, Irene continued to find happiness through her family as she continued to live in home in Holdrege.  For 12 years she continued taking her trips to Colorado, and even a couple of times to Arizona.  She would split time between Canon City and Colorado Springs, visiting her family.  In 2009, she moved to Holdrege Memorial Homes, where she encountered many friends from her past and was blessed to have so many wonderful people taking care of her.

Besides her husband, Edward, and her parents; Irene was preceded in death by her son, Demoyne in infancy; her sisters: Anna Larson, Kathryn Brown and Virginia Mae Schrader; and brothers-in-law:  Rusty Florell and his wife, Arlene; and Warren Reiter.

Irene leaves to celebrate her life; her children: Sharon Knotek and her husband, Brad of Canon City, Colorado; Ron Florell and his wife, Tootie of Holdrege; and Randy Florell and his wife, Connie of Colorado Springs, Colorado; 8 grandchildren:  Brenda Hallee and her husband, Chris; Mike Knotek and his wife, Joline; Kristy Knotek; Renee Bauer and her husband, Rick; Julie Denker and her husband, Lee; Shawn Florell and his wife, Heather; Jessica Feilmeier and her husband, Ben; and Jordan Florell; 20 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; a sister-in-law, Audrey Reiter of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Irene's honor, and kindly suggested to the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church or Holdrege Memorial Homes.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.