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Irene E. (Mrs. Francis) Serck Jun 29 2009
Funeral services for Irene E. (Mrs. Francis) Serck, age 87, of Watertown, SD, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2009, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. Benjamin Radtke will officiate. Music will be provided by Matt Weseloh as organist and Amy Weseloh as soloist. Irene passed away on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the hospital in Watertown. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Clear Lake, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be: Kevin Nelson, Garry Dumke, Dennis Thies, Terry Thies, and Elroy Pinkert. Active pallbearers will be: Chris Hustad, Josh Nelson, Matthew Westall, Lyndon Limberg, Jerry Linder, and Pat Lovry. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service. Irene was born on December 11, 1921, at Altamont, SD, to Lawrence and Ruby (Gordon) Johnson. She grew up on a farm near Altamont as the eldest of three daughters and adored her dad. Irene was in the eighth grade when Francis rode up on his horse behind her on her way home from school one day and introduced himself. They were not allowed to date until they were in high school. Francis and Irene both attended Aggie School in Brookings where she cooked while attending school. They maintained the friendships that they had made there throughout their adult lives and reunited at a yearly picnic. On January 23, 1943, Irene married Francis Serck at Altamont, SD. After their marriage, the couple moved to Denver, CO, where Francis was stationed with the U.S. Army Air Force. While Francis was overseas, Irene worked in a munitions factory. After Francis was discharged from the service, they moved to Watertown, where Irene helped him manage the Mellette Turkey Farm for many years. Irene started the school lunch program for St. Martin’s Lutheran School in 1965 and retired, after 25 years, in 1990. The kids all loved her cooking and missed it when they graduated on to high school. She was also an excellent seamstress. Irene made doll clothes and all of the girls’ clothes, including their prom and wedding dresses. She also loved to bake and had to settle arguments over her ‘Grandma buns.’ Irene’s gardens were always bountiful enough to share with all of her family and friends. She was a member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, the Ladies’ Aid, and the Ladies’ Club for many years and was also in charge of the Altar Committee for years. Irene loved music and was also a member of the choir. She never shied away from anything and she took everything in stride, always doing her best. Irene was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched in her own special way. One of the things Irene instilled in her daughters was that “words that are said in anger can never be taken back, so always think before you speak.” She honestly lived by the Golden Rule. Irene is survived by her husband, Francis, of Watertown; three daughters: Pennie (David) Nelson of Wauwatosa, WI, Patty (Keith) Wolter of Fargo, ND, and Pamela (Jim) Vose of Lancaster, CA; seven grandchildren: Lisa Wolter Hustad, Josh Nelson, Hollie Nelson Szymanski, Katie Nelson, Kevin Nelson, Matthew Westall, and Ashleigh Westall; two great-grandchildren: Wyatt Hustad and Brooklyn Hustad; and two sisters: Lorraine (Alvin) Hamann of Clear Lake, SD, and Vivian Thies of Apple Valley, CA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Irene E. (Mrs. Francis) Serck
Jun 29 2009

Funeral services for Irene E. (Mrs. Francis) Serck, age 87, of Watertown, SD, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2009, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. Benjamin Radtke will officiate. Music will be provided by Matt Weseloh as organist and Amy Weseloh as soloist. Irene passed away on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the hospital in Watertown.

Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Clear Lake, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be: Kevin Nelson, Garry Dumke, Dennis Thies, Terry Thies, and Elroy Pinkert. Active pallbearers will be: Chris Hustad, Josh Nelson, Matthew Westall, Lyndon Limberg, Jerry Linder, and Pat Lovry.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

Irene was born on December 11, 1921, at Altamont, SD, to Lawrence and Ruby (Gordon) Johnson. She grew up on a farm near Altamont as the eldest of three daughters and adored her dad. Irene was in the eighth grade when Francis rode up on his horse behind her on her way home from school one day and introduced himself. They were not allowed to date until they were in high school. Francis and Irene both attended Aggie School in Brookings where she cooked while attending school. They maintained the friendships that they had made there throughout their adult lives and reunited at a yearly picnic.

On January 23, 1943, Irene married Francis Serck at Altamont, SD. After their marriage, the couple moved to Denver, CO, where Francis was stationed with the U.S. Army Air Force. While Francis was overseas, Irene worked in a munitions factory. After Francis was discharged from the service, they moved to Watertown, where Irene helped him manage the Mellette Turkey Farm for many years. Irene started the school lunch program for St. Martin’s Lutheran School in 1965 and retired, after 25 years, in 1990. The kids all loved her cooking and missed it when they graduated on to high school. She was also an excellent seamstress. Irene made doll clothes and all of the girls’ clothes, including their prom and wedding dresses. She also loved to bake and had to settle arguments over her ‘Grandma buns.’ Irene’s gardens were always bountiful enough to share with all of her family and friends.

She was a member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, the Ladies’ Aid, and the Ladies’ Club for many years and was also in charge of the Altar Committee for years. Irene loved music and was also a member of the choir. She never shied away from anything and she took everything in stride, always doing her best. Irene was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched in her own special way. One of the things Irene instilled in her daughters was that “words that are said in anger can never be taken back, so always think before you speak.” She honestly lived by the Golden Rule.

Irene is survived by her husband, Francis, of Watertown; three daughters: Pennie (David) Nelson of Wauwatosa, WI, Patty (Keith) Wolter of Fargo, ND, and Pamela (Jim) Vose of Lancaster, CA; seven grandchildren: Lisa Wolter Hustad, Josh Nelson, Hollie Nelson Szymanski, Katie Nelson, Kevin Nelson, Matthew Westall, and Ashleigh Westall; two great-grandchildren: Wyatt Hustad and Brooklyn Hustad; and two sisters: Lorraine (Alvin) Hamann of Clear Lake, SD, and Vivian Thies of Apple Valley, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

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