Obituaries

Irene Klahn, 83 of Carroll, Iowa, died Sunday, September 25, 2011 from injuries received in an automobile accident near Exira.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 1, 2011 at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Andrew Hoffmann. Music will be by Shari Schulte, Tyler Badding, and the St. Lawrence Choir with Marcy Anderson as accompanist. Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers will be Kenneth Nees and Vern Henkenius. Gift Bearers will be Irene’s Grandchildren: Meghan Charochak, Anna Gerlitz, Rhiannon Long, Tiff Klahn and Ryan Meinecke. Casket Bearers will be Irene’s Grandsons: John Gerlitz, Nick Meinecke, and Kevin Charochak; and Irene’s nephews: Kevin Schaaf, Steve Schaaf, and John Henkenius. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 p.m. Friday where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m., followed by a Christian Wake Service by the parish at 6:30 p.m.
Because Irene valued education so highly and took pride in the academic accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Kuemper Catholic Schools Foundation. Online condolences may be left for Irene’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on April 3, 1928 at Mt. Carmel, Iowa, Irene Kathryn Klahn was the daughter of Herman and Anna (Nees) Henkenius. She spent her early years in Carroll County until her family moved to Massena. She graduated from Massena High School and was active in playing girls basketball. Irene always remarked she had never seen or played basketball until moving to Massena, but became a lifelong fan. One of the few occasions that she would become fixated to the television was during the Iowa State High School Girls Basketball Tournament, each and every year. She attended business school in Omaha and was employed in the office at Swift prior to her marriage. On November 19, 1949 she married Howard Klahn at St. Patrick’s Church in Massena. In 1956 they moved to the Carroll Community that became their beloved hometown. Howard and Irene raised four children and took great pride in each one. Irene was a talented seamstress, and equally a talented volunteer. She enjoyed every moment she spent volunteering with Sunnybrook, the local elections, Daffodil Days, and the Blood Mobile. Her children had to keep track of her busy schedule so they would know where to find her. After Irene’s husband passed away, she had great adventures and shared lots of laughter, traveling with her sister, Norma. Irene was a member of St. Lawrence Parish and Parish Ladies Guild.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Deb Gerlitz of Des Moines, Bruce Klahn and his wife Regina of Scranton, Gina Charochak and her husband Steven of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Lisa Meinecke of Grimes; her grandchildren: Rhiannon (Brandon), Tiffany, John, Anna, Kevin, Meghan, Nick and Ryan; her great-grandchildren: Kaylin, Adalyn, and Ashlynn; her sisters, Norma Schaaf of Massena, and Ethel Fritz of Oakland; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Howard in January of 2000; and her brothers, Kenneth and Donald Henkenius.