Irma Louise Koehler
Born: October 24th, 1918
Died: July 7th, 2013
Obituary
Mrs. Irma Louise Koehler, 94, of Mediapolis, died at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2013, at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born October 24, 1918 at Kossuth, she was the daughter of Clark and Rachel Dancey Winegard. On June 27, 1942 she married George Joseph Koehler in Burlington, where they lived together for many years. He preceded her in death on June 7, 1999.
Mrs. Koehler was a graduate of Mediapolis High School. She worked in production at Winegard Co for 26 years, retiring in 1983. She also was the manager of Home, Lawn, and Garden of Burlington. She was able to join the work force as soon as she taught her young son Tommy how to make pork chop casserole so supper would be ready when she and Shorty got home from work, which Tommy still proudly makes today.
Mrs. Koehler loved to garden, landscape, remodel, wallpaper, sew, and complete crafts of all kinds. As soon as her dream home and lawn looked perfect, she would change them again. She was always on the go and had a heart of gold. She was a doting mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her Tommy was the apple of her eye, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy. Her nieces and nephews all fondly remember the time spent at Aunt Irma and Uncle Shorty's as children, and many of her grandchildren's fondest childhood memories are of time spent with her. Hosting Christmas celebrations was her forte. In recent years, the highlights of her days were visits with family and friends at Prairie Ridge. She quickly befriended the nurses and aides, and her positive attitude helped her adjust and make the best of her new abruptly less busy lifestyle. She drank coffee with her son every Sunday, and she enjoyed sharing sips of coffee with her great grandchildren.
Survivors include her son, Thomas Koehler of Burlington; two granddaughters, Michele (Stacy) Lewis-Sells of Iowa City and Crystal Koehler of Des Moines; three great grandchildren, Anakin Worthington and Teddy Worthington both of Des Moines and Tanner Cupps of Burlington; one brother, Richard (Kay) Winegard of Fayette, Missouri; one sister, Lorraine (Scott) Elliott of Lakeland, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George; grandson, Michael Koehler in 1994; brothers, Wendell, John, and Gerald (Jeanette) Winegard; and sister, Frances (Eugene) Schulte.
A memorial has been established for Great River Hospice.