A Celebration of Life Service for Irene Oltmans, age 95 of Mankato, will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at the American Lutheran Church in Windom with Pastor Sarah Larsen Tade officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Windom.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 27, 2016, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the LaCanne Family Funeral Home in Windom and also for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Irene Vernette Oltmans was born on November 12, 1920 in Highwater Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota to Gilbert and Gertrude (Sabin) Swenson. She graduated from Storden High School in 1938.

On August 10, 1941, Irene was united in marriage to Edward Allen Oltmans on Irene’s Father’s farm in Highwater Township. This marriage was blessed with five children, Shirley, Dennis, Gary, Debra and Dawn. After marriage, Irene and Ed farmed for one year north of Windom and then for five years west of town. They then bought a farm south of Lamberton where Irene and Ed farmed for forty years until retiring and moving into Windom on Seventeenth Street. In 2003, Irene moved to Oak Terrace West Independent Living in North Mankato and remained living there until passing away at the Pathstone Living Center in Mankato on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the age of 95.

Through the years, Irene had many enjoyments in life which included cross stitching, gardening, playing cards-especially 500, shopping, baking-her cinnamon rolls and apple pies where family favorites, canning, sewing, quilting for family members, traveling, “wintering” in Phoenix, Arizona for twelve years, and most of all, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ed and Irene were members of the Highwater Lutheran Church and then joined the American Lutheran Church when they moved to Windom. Irene was a member of the church ladies aid, taught Sunday school, and was a 4-H leader.

Irene is survived by her four children, Shirley Bishop of North Mankato; Dennis (Peggy) Oltmans of Quarryville, PA; Debra (Ben) Hillesheim of Bird Island; Dawn Oltmans of Plymouth; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed Oltmans; son, Gary Oltmans; grandson, Matthew Oltmans; four siblings, Hazel, Stanford, Arnold and Verna.