Visitation:  Thursday, October 14, 2010 after 5:00pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.  There will be a parish scripture service at 7:00pm.

Funeral:  Friday, October 15, 2010 at 10:30am at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake.

Burial:  St. Margarete's Cemetery in Spirit Lake

Irene Wirtz was born March 12, 1923 in Earling, Iowa, the daughter of Lena (Johansman) and Nicholas Majerus.  At an early age, she moved to the Spirit Lake area.

On October 4, 1949, Irene was united in marriage to Norbert Wirtz in Spirit Lake.  Irene worked at Berkleys for twelve years before owning and operating Irene’s Antiques and Collectibles in Montgomery for several years.   In 2005, Irene moved to Lakefield, Minnesota to be closer to her daughter.

Irene enjoyed playing bingo, cards and games.  She also enjoyed watching soap operas, Wheel of Fortune and westerns, especially Gunsmoke and Bonanza. 

Irene passed away October 11, 2010 at the Sanford Jackson Hospital in Jackson, Minnesota at eighty-seven years of age.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Dean Tordsen of Lakefield; granddaughter, Melissa Tordsen and fiancé, Rick Parsons, of Fairmont, Minnesota; brother, Clarence of New Ulm, Minnesota; several nieces and nephews and her beloved cat, Sammy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norbert Wirtz; sister, Helen Pletz; brothers, Pete, George and Raymond.