IRELAN, Corrine M. (1929-2016)

IRELAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 11/6/2016 at 14:23:34

The Post-Bulletin
Rochester, MN
Sept. 26, 2016

CORRINE M. IRELAN

Memorial services for Corrine Mae (Krug) Irelan, 87, of Rochester, will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Meadow Lakes Senior Living, 22 45th Ave. NW, with visitation from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Burial will be at Dysart Cemetery in Dysart, Iowa, at a later date.

Corrine Mae Krug was born Feb. 23, 1929, in Dysart, to Otto and Mary Jane (McNamee) Krug. She was a longtime resident of the Rochester area for more than 50 years. She had a stroke on Sept. 15 and passed away on Sept. 20, 2016, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Corrine grew up in the Dysart farming community and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1947. At the age of 18, she was invited to a church event, and there she was born again and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. After that experience, she worked feverishly to save money to attend Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis from 1949 to 1951, completing her Bachelor's of education in an impressive three years.

She married Lee Irelan on March 27, 1951, and together they started a family and undertook a missionary service in Accra, Ghana, from 1958 to 1964. Her missionary service in Ghana ended after her husband tragically passed away, and she and her children returned to the United States in 1964. She then married Dale Hovel on July 17, 1965, and rekindled her love of farm life and expanded her family in Oronoco. After marriage dissolution with Dale, she worked at Salvation Army as a secretary from 1972 to 1980 and received an award for "Best Telephone Voice of Minnesota."

Corrine married Charles Clark on Jan. 29, 1977, and worked a variety of jobs, including at Libby's (Seneca Foods). After marriage dissolution with Charles, she cared for her parents, and when her mother was widowed, they traveled to Europe and many other places together. In 2006, she retired from Libby's (Seneca Foods) at the age of 78. In 2012, her health declined and she moved to her last residence, Meadow Lakes Senior Living in Rochester.

Although her mission in Ghana ended years ago, she continued her legacy as a missionary with all her heart forever. Corrine embodied the passion of her Savior, and loved to witness to others and share her love of Jesus with all through singing and sharing the gospel.

Corrine had a story for every situation and for every person. Her varied and unique life experiences enabled her to always find a common thread and relate to whoever she was talking to. Corrine often dominated a conversation with her passionate storytelling and loved connecting your life with hers, leaving a lasting impression.

She is survived by her children, Robert (Carman) Irelan of Urbana, Iowa, Jane (James) Ryan of West Palm Beach, Fla., Judy Teed of Dover, Jeffrey Hovel of Richfield, Minn., Bonnie (Terry) Haukom of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; three brothers and a sister, Glenn Krug, Violet Duran, Robert (Karin) Krug, Merlin John (Judy) Krug; and four stepchildren and their families, Robert (Theresa) Clark, Rebecca Nelson, Stephen (Karen) Clark, and David (Deborah) Clark.

Corrine was preceded in death by her parents; spouses, Lee Roy Irelan, Dale David Hovel; brother, Otto, Jr. (Jake) Krug; and children, Benjamin Hovel, James Clark, and an infant baby girl Hovel.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.ranfranzandvinefh.com .