Irene D. Arkfeld, 96, of Panama, Iowa, passed away November 29, 2020. A Private Family Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 5th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Panama. Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Irene D. Arkfeld, daughter of Henry and Rose (Mueller) Graeve was born September 30, 1924 on a farm near Earling, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. Irene walked 3 ¼ miles one way to school. When it was muddy, her dad took the kids to school in the horse drawn wagon. Irene was adventurous as she climbed out the attic window onto the roof and climbed to the chimney of the two-story family home with her brother Leonard. Her favorite things to do growing up were playing cards in the winter and wearing out the lawn while playing baseball in the summer. Irene stayed home her 8th grade year to help her mother. She returned to school and graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Earling with the class of 1943. After high school, she did housework in Omaha and worked at Bankers Life Insurance Company in Des Moines. She also helped her brothers and sisters in their homes after they had babies. On June 24, 1948 Irene married her first and last love Henry. Their life was built around faith in God. She lived and led by example and lovingly passed this on to her children.
Henry and Irene sold Wear-Ever pots and pans and were owners of Arkfeld Studio. In 1963, she was the first woman Rural Letter Carrier in South West Iowa and retired after 25 years from the United States Postal Service. Irene took great pride and loved her job and serving the public. She was a member of the Panama American Legion Auxiliary Post 601, taught CCD, and was a member of St. Mary’s Panama Alter Society.
They loved to go to all the kids and grandkids sporting events. She also loved to travel coast to coast to see her children and grandchildren. Irene enjoyed watching football, baseball, and college basketball on T.V., always cheering for the underdog or the team that was closest to home. She loved playing cards so much (especially 500) that she called it a sport. She loved spending time with her family, playing cards, and going on as many trips to the casino as possible.
She shared her love of ice cream and popcorn with her children and grandchildren and is now passing it down to the great grandchildren. Irene always enjoyed making her signature dishes, cinnamon rolls, cheese ball, and spaghetti sauce (not together). When Irene’s children were growing up they often brought friends over for supper, Irene would never turn anyone away from a meal. Her welcoming nature showed through her hospitality and her warm personality. Whenever visitors came, she would end the visit with “I Love You More,” her signature phrase.
Irene died on Sunday, November 29, 2020 at her home in Panama, Iowa surrounded by her family, attaining the age of ninety-six years, one month, and thirty days. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Henry Arkfeld, son-in-law Michael J. Mohr, grandson John Mohr, siblings William Graeve, Raymond Graeve, Harry Graeve, Alfons Graeve, Rita Pranke, Helen Petsche, Margaret Tedrow, Esther Musich, Veronica Hodapp, Leonard Graeve, Aloys Graeve, Charles Graeve, and Leo Graeve.
She is survived by her children Laura Arkfeld-Mohr of Panama, Iowa; Daniel (Jeanne) Arkfeld of Seneca, South Carolina; Patrick (Denise) Arkfeld of Fresno, California; Timothy (Denise) Arkfeld of Charlotte, North Carolina; Joanne (Donald) Ozbun of Atlantic, Iowa; Jane (Richard) Hodapp of Matthews, North Carolina; Phillip (Laura) Arkfeld of Chino Hills, California; Denise (Scott) Assmann of Panama, Iowa; Deanna (Roger) Schwery of Jacksonville, Iowa; 25 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; siblings Mary Agnes Korducki of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; James (Mary Ann) Graeve of St. Joseph, Minnesota; Lawrence (Colleen) Graeve of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Ruth (Ray) Korducki of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; in-laws Mick Graeve of Earling, Iowa; Jack Arkfeld of Omaha, Nebraska; Judy Knott of Harlan, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
