Irene Dorothy (Brinkman) SHAHAN

SHAHAN, AKERS, BRINKMAN, SHAHAN-WIRTJES, WIRTJES, BUNSTON, CAREW, MCINTOSH, MAHOOD, HEMANN, JOHNSON, HEYDEN, HUSTED, PALS, BRANNICK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/21/2009 at 04:30:52

MASON CITY - Irene D. Shahan 84, of 107 Seventh St. S.W., Mason City, died Wednesday morning (April 15, 2009) at her home. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2009, at Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, with Pastor Don Preston, officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. The family will gather one hour prior to services at the church to greet friends. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Irene D. Shahan Memorial Fund.

Irene Dorothy was born on Oct. 5, 1924, in rural Galt, the daughter of Henry William and Dorothy Ann (Akers) Brinkman. She attended her early years at a rural school at Galt and later attended the Dows Community School. She was united in marriage to Carrol Shahan in September of 1944 in Mason City. They lived in the Dows area raising their family until 1959 when they relocated to Clear Lake. Over the next several years she lived in Mason City, Plymouth and then back in Mason City. Irene was a member of the Eagles Club, Ladies of the Moose and the VFW auxiliary. She did alterations for Betty's Bridal shop and worked at the North Iowa Community Action Center as their manager until she retired. She crocheted afghans, sewed for the family, and enjoyed growing a vegetable garden and canning. In her early years she baked bread and cinnamon rolls in her wood cook stove. Her famous beef and noodles and apple butter were a family favorite. She was a member of both a pool and a bowling league, she enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, going camping and traveling with her family which included locations in California to visit her brother, New Orleans, Georgia, Montana and Florida to name a few trips. Irene also enjoyed an occasional casino trip as well. She was described as feisty, caring, and was very cherished by her kids and grandkids. She was the center of her family's life, and her home was the meeting place for family and friends to gather. She also enjoyed the company of dear friends, Mary Lou and Shirley Olson. Her house and food were always open and available to her family and friends.

Those thankful in sharing Irene's life include her three children: Michael Lee, and his wife, Linda Shahan, of Fertile; Patrick Carrol, and his wife, Joy Shahan, of LaPorte City; daughter Pamela Joyce Shahan-Wirtjes, of Grafton; seven grandchildren, Brandon Shahan and Alicia Shahan, and fiancee Brandon Bunston, Kelly (Paul) Carew, Loree (Ken) McIntosh, Heather (Ryan) Mahood, Tyler (Brigett) Wirtjes, and Whitney (Sonny) Hemann; five great-grandchildren, Samantha Johnson, Dylan McIntosh, Trenton Wirtjes, Chloe Hemann, and Shelby Heyden; two sisters, Marcene (Rocky) Husted, of Alden; Shirley Brinkman, of Webster City; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Pals, of Belmond, and Ann Brinkman, of Dows; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Her parents, former husband, Carrol Shahan; one son, Randall T. Shahan; one grandson, Donnie Shahan; three brothers, Louis, Melvin and Russell Brinkman; and one sister, Delores Brannick, preceded her in death. Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
April 17, 2009