Irene Lehman was born Nov. 8, 1910, in Mansfield, the daughter of Fredrick W. and Lillian A. (Passer) Niebuhr. The family moved to Albert Lea when Irene was young and she attended school from elementary through high school graduation.

Irene was 97 years old when she died. She spent the last five years of her life at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home. She loved St. John&8217;s and called it home. She set many records for all the events she attended with her good friend, Audrey.

In her 70s and 80s she was very busy bumming around town with her many friends. Irene and her good friends, Adeline and Agnes, were always together. She was the driver and they enjoyed eating out, shopping and attending church activities. She loved her church, Salem Lutheran, where she was involved in many activities. She took great pride in being a Sunday School teacher, with the four year olds, for many years.

When her husband, Ken, was alive, they spent many weeks at their cabin in northern Minnesota with their friends and family. Irene and Ken would visit their daughter, Judy and family, in Arizona each winter. Irene continued going to Arizona and to her cabin until she was 90. Irene and Ken also spent many nights in Iowa watching their son Jack coach basketball games. Their two children and grandchildren were very important to them.

Irene worked at J.C. Penney for over 40 years. She really loved working at J.C. Penney and was very good at it. The familiy teased her that she got her college degree at the University of J.C. Penney.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ken in 1983; two siblings: Vera and Alton in infancy, and a sister Ardis and her husband Lloyd Peterson and a brother Herb and his wife Libby Niebuhr; a son-in-law Tom Metcalfe; a brother-in-law, Dale Larson; and Ken&8217;s parents and brothers and sisters and spouses.

Irene is survived by one son, Jack Lehmann and his wife Barb of Rockford, Iowa; one daughter, Judy Nelson and her husbnd Jim, of Mesa, Ariz.; five grandchildren: Peter Lehmann and his wife Colleen, of Portland, Ore.; Julie Hicks and her husband Kevin, of Coeur d&8217;Alene, Idaho; Mark Lehmann and his wife Kathie, of Mason City, Iowa; Mitchell Metcalfe and his wife Frannie, of Apache Junction, Ariz.; and Michelle Stige and her husband Gary, of Haines, Alaska; one sister, LaDonna (Mrs. Dale) Larson of Pheonix, Ariz.; 15 great-grandchildren, two great-great- grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials are preffered to Salem Lutheran Church or St. John&8217;s Luthern Home. Arrangements are by Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea.