Irene Margaret Harbers

IN MEMORY OF
IRENE M. HARBERS

BORN
September 4, 1916
Wilmont, Minnesota
PASSED AWAY
February 27, 2007
Tucson, Arizona

MEMORIAL SERVICES
1:00 P.M. Sunday, March 4, 2007
First Presbyterian Church
Ashton, Iowa
Rev. Dale Lint, officiating

MUSIC
“How Great Thou Art”
“Londonderry Aire”
“Ave Maria”
“Clair de Lune”
“Begin the Beguine”
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
No. 22 “This Is My Fathers World”
Pianist: Norma Snyder Jones

HONORARY CASKET BEARER
Jim Habben
CASKET BEARERS
Tim Martin Steve Habben
Tom Snyder Walt Seivert
Art Vander Pol Howard Johnson

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Gilman Township Cemetery
Graveside service at
12:15 P.M. Sunday, March 4, 2007

After the memorial service relatives and friends
are invited to join the family at the Cedar Cabin in Ashton.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home ~ Sheldon, Iowa

Memorials may be directed to:
the Ashton and Sheldon Public Libraries;
to Heifer International @ www.heifer.org
or in Tucson, Arizona to the Casa De La Luz Hospice.

IRENE M. HARBERS

Irene Margaret Willemssen (Mrs. Laurence) Harbers the daughter of Ulfert and Fannie (Ackerman) Willemssen was born on a farm at Wilmont, Minnesota on September 4, 1916, moving to Iowa in 1918. She attended country school in Osceola and Lyon counties. The family moved to Bryant, South Dakota in 1925 and returned to Ashton, Iowa in 1931. Irene graduated from Ashton High School in 1935; she managed the Worthmore Station in Ashton until December of 1942 and was employed at the Sibley Creamery until December of 1943. Irene was united in marriage to Laurence Harbers on January 11, 1944 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashton. They lived on a farm southwest of Ashton, before moving to the Harbers Homestead in 1947. After retiring from farming, Laurence and Irene loved to travel. They traveled to Europe and to all the 48 states, camping with the Tri-State Coachman Campers for 10 years and were also members of the 100 Club of Ashton. After 48 years on the Harbers Farm, they moved into Sheldon in 1996. They became winter residents of the Wagon’s West Trailer Court in Tucson, Arizona in 1978. Her husband, Laurence preceded her in death in 2001. Irene passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 in Tucson, Arizona, reaching the age of 90 years, 5 months and 23 days.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ashton, where she taught Sunday school, catechism and Daily Vacation Bible School. She was a member of the ladies organization, holding many offices through the years and she was elected as an elder in 1990. She enjoyed all the activities of her family, school, and the neighborhood. She was a member of the Ashton Legion Auxiliary; a 50 year member of the Federated Women’s Club of Ashton; served on the election board at Ashton for 28 years, and was a charter member of the Allegro Club of Sheldon. Irene loved music, reading, crocheting, and she baked cakes for weddings, anniversaries, and graduations.
Irene is survived by her three children, Eileen and her husband, Ron Bowerman of Des Moines, Iowa; Lee and his wife, Claudia Harbers of Tucson, Arizona; Jane and her husband, Mark Baumgardner of Des Moines, Iowa; three grandchildren, Todd Harbers of Cottonwood, AZ; Chandler Bowerman of Des Moines, IA; and Laura Harbers of San Jose, CA; four sisters, Pearl Hoffman of Gettysburg, PA; Fern Devine of Apollo Beach, FL; Leona and her husband, Bob Martin of Ankeny, IA; and Mavis and her husband, Dale Luther of Merrill IA; a sister-in-law, Pauline Carson; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Laurence; her parents; her older sister, Esther; and a brother, Paul.

Goodnight Irene

She came from Minnesota
And moved to Ioway
And when she saw those tall cornfields
She thought that she would stay

Chorus…………..Irene Goodnight

Sometimes she lived in the country
Sometimes she lived in the town
Next Monday she’ll be 90 years
And I don’t think she’ll settle down

Chorus………..Irene Goodnight

Irene loves to ramble
And stay out late at night
And when the winter’s getting cold
She takes a southbound flight

(Lyrics by: Ron Bowerman in honor of Irene’s 90th birthday…2006)