Irene P. (Mihalakis) Waltz 1923-2009

WALTZ, MIHALAKIS, NEUBAUER, BILLMEYER, WILLS, MELSSEN, ROONEY, BUSH, WEIDENBACHER, JORGENSON, PEOTTER, THIELL, ADAM, SPECHT, OBERFOELL

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/2/2016 at 22:05:40

Irene P. Waltz, 86, of Stonehill Care Center, formerly of 1552 Maple St. for over 60 years, died at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at the care center, of natural causes.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Steve Rosonke officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Linwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m.

She was born on Jan. 24, 1923, in Dubuque, daughter of Phillip and Viola (Neubauer) Mihalakis. Irene was baptized into the Greek Orthodox religion as a baby. When she was a young girl, the family joined St. Mary's Parish, where she has worshipped ever since. She graduated from eighth grade at St. Mary's, after which she went to Central School and then on to business classes.

She was employed in the food service industry her entire life starting at age 7 in her father's diner (Phillip's Diner) on Main St. She slept in a booth and was up at 5 a.m. to help with early morning business. The customers called her "Queenie." Irene worked at various restaurants owned by the Mihalakis family throughout her teen and early married years.

Irene married John J. "Hank" Waltz on Dec. 29, 1941, at St. Mary's Church; he preceded her in death on June 22, 1992.

She later worked in food service at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque for more than 20 years, then at the Elm Street Correctional facility. After retiring, she volunteered her time in the lunch room at Bryant School.

Irene was an avid bowler, starting at St. Mary's Lanes in the late 1930's. She was on many teams and bowled an average of four nights a week. She had many high series trophies to her credit. Weekly neighborhood euchre games and bingo were also enjoyable pastimes for her. She was a wonderful dancer, light on her feet.

She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Dubuque and a former member of the Catholic Daughters.

Surviving are three daughters, Cynthia A. "Cyndy" (Richard) Billmeyer, of Dubuque, Kathleen M. Waltz, of New Mexico, and Mary J. (Robert) Wills, of Hill City, S.D.; a son, George P. (Linda) Waltz, of East Dubuque, Ill.; nine grandchildren, Maria (Henry) Melssen, Rebecca (Joe) Specht, Stephanie (Dennis) Oberfoell, Sarah (Chad) Adam, Richard (Tracy) Billmeyer, Jennifer (Shawn) Thiell, Julie (Paul) Rooney, Sean Peotter and Randy Waltz-Wills; 16 great-grandchildren; a sister, Kathleen Jorgenson, of Glenwood, Iowa; two brothers, Louis (Margaret) Mihalakis and John "Junnie" (Letha) Mihalakis, both of Dubuque.

She also was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Christine; a sister, Sophia Mihalakis; a brother, George Mihalakis; and two half sisters, Harriet Bush and Delores Weidenbacher.

Memorials may be given to St. Mary's Church, 1584 White St., Dubuque, IA 52001, and Stonehill Care Center, 3485 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA, 52001.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank head nurse Kate and all her dedicated staff on 2 South at Stonehill, for your care and concern for "Grandma." You are too many to mention by name; but you all gave her such loving care. We truly appreciate all your efforts on Grandma's behalf. We will all remember the happier days, when she was feisty.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Monday, December 28, 2009