Irene Louise (Neumann) Gunzenhauser, 02 Apr 1941-17 Jan 2020

GUNZENHAUSER, NEUMANN, BAHNDORF, SCHLESSELMAN, HAWKINS, GROOMES, VAN OTEGHAM, HOLCOMB, KOLCZYK

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/22/2020 at 11:54:16

Irene Louise Gunzenhauser, age 78 of Ladora, passed away Friday, January 17, 2020, in her home. Funeral service: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 23, 2020, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead, with Pastor Michael Kolesar officiating. Burial will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Homestead.

Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established.

Irene Neumann, was born April 2, 1941, in West Amana, the daughter of Carl and Louise Bahndorf Neumann. She graduated from Amana High School in 1959, and attended the Beauty School in Cedar Rapids. Irene married David Gunzenhauser on June 13, 1963 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead, and they made their home in the Amana Colonies.

She operated her beauty salon out of her home. Irene and David ran the Pizza Haus in Williamsburg and then purchased the Little Chicago Restaurant, and owned Gunzie’s Pizza in Amana. She was later employed by Rockwell Collins in Iowa City until retirement. Following her husband’s passing, she moved to Ladora. After retirement, she worked part time at the Ladora Stora.

Irene enjoyed all crafts, cross stitching, crocheting, sewing, going out to eat and having her “ladies lunches” and watching the Hallmark channel. She especially loved going shopping with her friend Mary Louise, traveling and going cruisin, visiting with people, spending time with family and her dog Dukie. Christmas was her favorite time of the year.

Irene is survived by her daughter Dawn (Glen) Schlesselman, of Ladora; four grandchildren Ellie (Charles) Hawkins, of Ladora, Evan (Courtney) Schlesselman, of Victor, Whitney (Zack) Groomes, of Shipley, and Nikki (Andrew) Van Otegham, of Victor; 13 great grandchildren, Raelene, Cash and Memphis Hawkins, Brayden, Payton and Nolan Schlesselman, Zoey, Izzy, Barrett and Loretta Groomes, Kodie Holcomb, Kolt and Henry Van Otegham; and a sister Judy (Martin) Kolczyk, of Marengo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David, and a grandson Nicholas in infancy.

Published in The Hometown Current on January 22, 2020. An abbreviated version published in The Gazette on January 20, 2020