Funeral service for F. Irene Skaar, age 86, formerly of Hayward, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Hayward Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Malm will officiate. Interment will be in the Hayward Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Irene died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.

F. Irene Skaar was born Nov. 7, 1915, to George and Martha (Charlesworth) Haughton in Hankinson, N.D. She attended Hayward schools. On Nov. 12, 1933, Irene was united in marriage to Arnold W. Skaar in Hayward. She was a member of the Hayward Lutheran Church and had been active in the Ladies Aid, Naomi Circle, Altar Guild, and choir and had been a Sunday School teacher. Irene was a member of the Hayward Senior Citizens and a past member of Farm Bureau and War Dads. Irene was a great cook, enjoyed crossword puzzles, loved card playing at the Senior Center, bowling, studying her Bible, watching Twins games, and following her family in activities such as sports and music. Music of all kinds was a very important part of Irene’s life and she enjoyed singing in the Hayward Choir and the choir at St. John’s. She also enjoyed her cat, “Ginger.”

Survivors include her sons: Gerald and his wife Grace of Hayward, Donald and his wife Patricia of Colorado, and Neal and his wife Jean of Hayward; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; sister-in-law, Gen Olson of Thorne Crest North; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arnold, in 1990; son, Bruce, in 1952; three sisters: Agnes Nelson, Dorothy Westrum and Kate Haughton; and brother, W. Bruce Haughton.