Mrs. RONALD J. (Irene C. Langenbacher) HUSTON 1914 - 2003

ULRICH, LANGENBACHER, HUSTON, HERMAN, DUNWOODY, BARBEE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 10/9/2003 at 09:21:05

Irene C. Huston

Telegraph Herald - Sunday, August 17, 2003

Mrs. Ronald J. (Irene C.) Huston, 88, of 1711 Elm St., died at 7:19 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, at Bethany Home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 1199 Main St. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St.

She was born on Nov. 5, 1914, in Monona, Iowa, daughter of Frank and Ruth (Ulrich) Langenbacher.

She married Ronald J. Huston on March 2, 1935, in Mount Carroll, Ill.; he preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 1968. While they lived in Manchester, Iowa, she and her husband, Ronald, had a Star Route for the United States Post Office in Manchester. They then moved to Dubuque, and Irene worked at the Savanna (Ill.) Ordinance Depot as a chauffeur for the officers during the war.

After the war, she worked in route sales for the Grand Union Tea Co. She then worked in the ham canning department at the former Dubuque Packing Co. for more than 30 years, until her retirement. She was a volunteer driver for the Meals on Wheels Program at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque, for 22 years. She was awarded the Governor's Volunteer Award three times for her volunteer work.

In the summer time, Irene had carnival concessions and a novelty and jewelry stand at many tri-state events and at the Dubuque County Fair.

She was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. She was a former member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 150, the Dubuque Pack Retirees and Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Irene was a very devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She delighted in spending time with her family and pets. Irene was always ready to help anyone in need. She often went out of her way to help her friends.

Surviving are two daughters, Mary Lou Huston and Kathy (Paul) Herman, both of Dubuque; three grandchildren, Chris (Gail) Huston, Michelle (Steve) Dunwoody and Lisa (John) Barbee, all of Dubuque; and five great-grandchildren, Brandee and Andrea Huston, Lindsey and Ryan Dunwoody and Madeline Barbee.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; and a special grandmother, Celia Ulrich.

Memorials may be given to the Dubuque Humane Society, 175 N. Crescent Ridge, Dubuque, Iowa 52003.

The family wishes to say a special thank-you to Dave Lape, a wonderful friend and neighbor, without whose help Irene would not have been able to stay at home so long.