Irene B. Holthaus

Irene B. Holthaus, age 89, of Decorah, IA, died Sunday evening, April 22, 2012 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 28, 2012 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in St. Benedict Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Friday, April 27 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with a Rosary recited at 5 P.M. Friday, and on Saturday after 9:30 A.M. at the church, one hour before the service. Irene Barbara (Bodensteiner) Holthaus was born at home on the family farm on November 23, 1922 in St. Lucas, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Johanna (Rausch) Bodensteiner. She attended St. Luke’s Catholic School in St. Lucas through the eighth grade. Irene was united in marriage to Nilus P. Holthaus on September 9, 1940 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa. To this union twelve children were born: Larry, Jim, Joyce, Elaine, Judy, John, William, Mike, Peggy, Chuck, Danny and Karen. Irene and Nilus farmed near Fort Atkinson, Iowa, then moved and farmed north of Decorah in Canoe Township for many years. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening and playing cards, and she loved to plant flowers and bake. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting her grandchildren. Irene became a resident of the Aase Haugen Home in November 5, 2002. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Nilus on June 3, 1995; her daughter, Judy Davis on May 7, 2007; a grandson, Jason Holthaus; her brothers, Albert, Ray, Irvin, Leo and Richard Bodensteiner; her sisters, Alma Koch and Helen Nienhaus; and an infant sister, Doris. Irene is survived by her children: Larry (Lucy) Holthaus of Coon Rapids, MN, Jim Holthaus of Decorah, Joyce Pint of New Castle, CO, Elaine (Tom) Bush of Junction City, WI, John (Mary) Holthaus of Dixon, IL, William (Janice) Holthaus of Preston, MN, Mike (Nancy) Holthaus of Phoenix, AZ, Peggy (Gaylon) Jennings of Wadena, IA, Chuck Holthaus of Dayton, OH, Danny (Marilyn) Holthaus of Calmar, IA and Karen (Jeff) Ratajczyk of Stewartville, MN; 27 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Frieda Mihm of West Union and Irma “Julia” Schuler of Austin, TX.