Irene Louise Knudsen, the daughter of Ernest and Caroline (Miller) Mutschall, was born November 6, 1927, in Manning, Iowa, and died December 5, 2023, at Addington Place of Carroll in Carroll, Iowa at the age of 96 years, and 29 days.
Irene was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln township, Iowa which now is the church at the Hausbarn farm in Manning, Iowa. She attended school at Douglas, #3 and then graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1946. Upon graduation, she was employed at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Des Moines and then transferred to the Audubon Exchange.
Irene was united in marriage to John O. Knudsen on October 23, 1948, at Our Saviour’s Church in Des Moines, Iowa. They farmed near Viola Center and also west of Audubon on her parents’ farm. Two sons were born to this union, Roger and Rex. In 1968 she started checking at Audubon Super Value until the age of 79. In 2016 they moved to Carroll and in November 2021 they moved to Addington Place, where she will be greatly missed at the card table and amongst staff for her humor and tender heart.
After retirement, she enjoyed going fishing locally and also many trips to Minnesota. One of Irene’s highlights was winning a trip to Germany as that is where her parents were both born. Irene loved her family and especially loved being a grandma; her grandkids and great-grandkids were so special to her and she enjoyed keeping up with their lives via her digital photo frame. Irene was a lifelong member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.
Preceding her in death were her husband, John; her parents Ernest and Caroline; her in-laws Andrew and Rosie Knudsen; her daughter-in-law, Sandy Knudsen; sister Alma (Thearl) Mesecher; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Nels and Ila Knudsen; Leonard and Beatrice Knudsen; Lester and Katie Knudsen; Gladys and Charles Miller; and Warren and Betty Knudsen.
Irene is survived by her sons Roger and wife Jane Knudsen of Williamsburg, Iowa and Rex Knudsen of Carroll, Iowa; four grandchildren: Julie Kennebeck and special friend Brad Schafbuch and Jodie and husband Chad Driscoll all of Williamsburg, Iowa; Allissa and husband Evan Aldinger of San Antonio, Texas; Katie and husband Kirby Gunnerson of Bondurant, Iowa, 7 great-grandchildren: Jayden and Camden Kennebeck; and Peyton, Kenzi and Mylee Driscoll all of Williamsburg, Iowa; and Lincoln and Harper Aldinger of San Antonio, Texas; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
The family will meet with friends on Friday morning, December 8, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dan Beattie and Pastor Cindy Johnson on Friday morning, December 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Leroy and Sharlene Albertsen; Tom Nielsen and, Gary and Eileen Monson. The casket bearers will be Mark Sorensen, Jeff DeBower, Steve Mathisen, Jeff Nielsen, Donald Rustvold, and Terry Thygesen. The service will be live-streamed.
