Services for Irene Breitkreutz, 104, of Omaha, Neb., and formerly of Groton, will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 1, at the United Methodist Church, Groton. The Rev. Matt Richards will officiate. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Groton, under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.
Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Irene passed away Feb. 17, 2013, in Omaha, Neb.
Irene Martha (Henry) Breitkreutz was born to Lula and William Henry in Dustin, Okla., on April 5, 1908. She was valedictorian of her 1925 high school graduating class, where she played center on the girls' basketball team. Upon completion of high school, she attended a semester of college with the intention of becoming a nurse, but an appendectomy interrupted her plans.
She married Alfred Breitkreutz in Sapulpa, Okla., on Dec. 16, 1926. To this union, three children were born: Alfred Leonard, Ralph Dale and Mary Jane. They lived in Shawnee Okla., until 1931, when they moved to Groton. They lived on their farm northeast of Groton until 1959, when they built a residence in Groton. Irene loved being on the farm, where they raised grain, cattle, pigs and chickens. A longtime member of the United Methodist Church, she was active in the United Methodist Women. She worked briefly at the Groton Nursing Home following the death of her husband in 1972. Following several hospitalizations in 2003, she moved to Omaha to live with her daughter and family until her death on Feb. 17, 2013.
She loved to play cards, was a member of the Handicraft Club, worked jumbles/crossword puzzles, watched Wheel of Fortune, embroidered dishtowels and crocheted many, many afghans. Irene was extremely proud to be a Gold Star Mother. At age 100, Irene was named the Omaha Nebraska Visiting Nurses Association "Volunteer of the Year" for her work crocheting baby afghans for young mothers at the homeless shelters. The VNA liked to boast that they had the oldest volunteer in Omaha.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; her parents; seven brothers and sisters; a son, Alfred Leonard; and daughter-in-law, Paula Erdmann Breitkreutz.
She is survived by her children: Ralph and Virginia Breitkreutz, Mary Jane and Jeff Loll; grandchildren: Tamra and Steve Ward, Kalli Saland, Laura and James Lovato, David Loll, Gloria and Dick Pluimer, Gregg Werger, Ginger Humprey, Gaylene Schwalen; great-grandchildren: Shaina and John Rogers, Samantha Saland, Jenna and Matt King, Carly Ward, Jack Ward, Maria Lovato, Sirena Lovato, Nathan Loll; and great-great-grandchild: Tyler Schold.
Casketbearers will be: John Clark, Jeff Howard, Brad Waage, Jay Waage, Steve Ward and David Loll.
Memorials are preferred to Groton United Methodist Church, 906 North 1st Street, Groton, SD 57445.
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