Irene Adeline (Ruckdashel) SIDO EGGENA

EGGENA, RUCKDASHEL, LANGMAN, SIDO, KIBBY, MORPHEW, FERLEMAN, COTY, KLUNDER, MARTIN, MCCOY, JINDRA, CRAIG, PETERS, FOLLMOUTH, JANSSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/13/2012 at 11:16:58

June 24, 1921 - April 6, 2012

Mason City, IA - Irene A. Eggena, 90, of Mason City, went to be with her Lord on Friday, April 6, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 2502 South Jefferson Ave., Mason City, with Pastor Emily Horrell officiating. Committal services will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Visitation will take place Monday evening, April 9, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, where friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. A time for sharing of memories will begin at 6:30. Visitation will continue one hour prior to Irene's service on Tuesday at the church. Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Irene's name in care of her family.

Irene Adeline Ruckdashel was born on June 24, 1921, in Charles City, Iowa, the daughter of James Allen and Olive Katherine (Langman) Ruckdashel. She attended Rockford High School and graduated amongst the class of 1938. Following her graduation, Irene attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls where she graduated in 1940 with an elementary teaching certificate. She began her teaching career in a country school near Rockford.

It was during her time in college that Irene met Kenneth M. Sido. They were wed on Sept. 1st of 1940 in Woolstock and were blessed with two daughters, Marla Jean and Judy. Kenneth would precede Irene in death in February of 1944. Following Kenneth's passing, Irene worked at her father's café in Rockford. While working there she was introduced to Albert Eggena and within a month's courtship they became engaged to be married. On January 12, 1945, Irene and Albert were united in marriage in Cheyenne, Wyo., where Albert was stationed with the Army. This union would be blessed with two children, Patricia and Alvin, as well as the addition of Fred, Albert's son from a previous marriage. Upon Albert's discharge from the military, they returned to the Rockford area and began farming. In 1947, they moved to the Meservey-Thornton area where they continued to farm. In 1966, they moved into Thornton and Irene took courses to reinstate her teaching certificate. Irene then began teaching at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Rockwell. Shortly thereafter they moved into Mason City and Irene began teaching at Holy Family Catholic School. She also worked as a teacher's aide in Plymouth. In 1972 Irene began working at Kmart in Mason City, where she worked until her retirement in 1986.

Irene's highest priority was her family. She cherished the years spent at home with her children and loved being able to prepare large meals for her family to enjoy together. Over the years as her family grew to grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren Irene delighted in the hours spent with family. In years past she busied herself with canning, crocheting, quilting, her extensive cup and plate collection and arts and crafts. In recent years Irene enjoyed playing bingo, solving various puzzle and word games and traveling. She was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and was a former 4-H leader for the Bonnie Bluebelles of Franklin County.

Those grateful in sharing in Irene's life are her children, Alvin Eggena and his friend Sue Kibby, Beaman, Iowa, Judith (Keith) Morphew, Mason City, and Patricia Ferleman and her friend Mike Coty, Mason City; daughter-in-law, Donna Eggena and her fiancé Daryl Klunder; grandchildren, Doug (Amy) Martin, Connie (Ray) McCoy, Lori Ferleman, Lonni Ferleman and his friend Anne, and Penny (Rick) Jindra; three stepgrandchildren, Randy Craig, Michael Craig and Barb Peters; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Follmouth; sister-in-law, Betty Ruckdashel; Irene's special friend, Vern Janssen; and numerous extended family members and many friends. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Ara Ruckdashel; her husbands, Kenneth, in 1944, and Albert, in 1978; stepson, Frederic Eggena; daughter, Marla Jean Sido; brothers, Richard Ruckdashel and Virgil Ruckdashel; sister-in-law, Carol Ruckdashel; stepgrandson, Duane Craig; stepgranddaughter-in-law, Julie Craig; great grandson, Jeffrey Jindra; nephews, Eugene Follmouth, Daniel, and James Ruckdashel; and stepgreat-grandsons, Bryan Craig and Devin Craig. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
April 8, 2012