Inez Waalkens, 1923-2017

Published 1:00 am Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Funeral services for Inez Jane Waalkens, 94, of Albert Lea will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Interment will be at Hollandale Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Inez Waalkens

Inez died Monday, Aug.14, 2017, at her home.

Inez Jane Waalkens was born Feb. 21, 1923, in Iowa, the daughter of Reint and Mary (Eckhoff) Karsjens. Inez worked at several factories, including the Lockheed airplane factory in California making P38 fighter jets during World War II.

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On Sept. 28, 1986, Inez married Henry Waalkens at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She loved spending time at Myre-Big Island State Park, fishing at the Federal Dam up north, camping, gardening and watching the wrens in her yard.

Inez is survived by her children Susan (Randy) Cockeram, Marjorie Renchin and Jerry Bronson, all of Albert Lea, Morris Bronson of Alden and Kathy (Robert) Pesak of Hermitage, Tennessee; stepchildren Patricia Anderson of Faribault, Larry (Paige) Waalkens of Forest Lake, Loren Waalkens of Lake City and Lori (James) Otis of Wesley, Iowa; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers Dwight Karsjens and Delbert Karsjens; sisters Eleanor Harms and Lauretta Barnett; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Inez was preceded in death by her parents; son, Jim Bronson; brothers Edward, Orval and Walter Karsjens; sisters Mathilda Waalkens and Leonora Miller; and stepdaughter, Judy Renville.