Irene V. Goskeson, 84, passed away peacefully Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at her home in Albert Lea. A memorial service for Irene will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in rural Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, 2210 E. Main in Albert Lea, and again one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in Central Freeborn Cemetery.

Irene Verlaine Olson was born April 18, 1934, to parents Marvin and Ethel (Romsdahl) Olson in Watonwan County. She graduated from St. James High School in 1952 and went on to Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse in 1955. She worked in various nursing positions at Trimont Community Hospital, Windom Area Hospital and Estherville Iowa Hospital.

Irene started working for the American Red Cross as a bloodmobile nurse. She met her husband-to-be, Orville Goskeson, at a blood drive. The two were married Jan. 18, 1974, at Long Lake Lutheran Church in St. James and enjoyed 44 years of marriage together.

They made their home in Albert Lea where Irene became a licensed day care provider, taught piano lessons and was the organist at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church for 41 years. Irene was a home health nurse for many years. She was active with Senior Resources and volunteered for Semcac and distributed meals.

Irene and Orville had a love of music, playing in the Bluegrass Family Band and playing gigs on their own for over 20 years. Irene was very musically talented and able to play a wide variety of instruments.

Irene will be dearly missed by her family. Survivors include her husband, Orville Goskeson; children Debra (Tom) Sax of Hudson, Wisconsin, Karla (Thomas) Klingenberg of Paris, Tennessee, Brent (Julie) Goskeson of Apple Valley and Kris (Jim) Amarosa of Albert Lea; grandchildren Sean Sax, Daniel Klingenberg, Krista Klingenberg, Alyssa Goskeson, James Amarosa and John Amarosa; sister, Ethel Christopher, of Jackson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Margie Olson, LaVonne Olson, Meta Olson, Evelyn Carlson, Marilyn Olson and George and Delores Goskeson; special niece and caregiver, Terri (Billy) Green; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Ethel Olson; sisters Muriel Hagen and Ruth “Dolly” Muller; brothers Windfield, Verle, Sylvan and Eldon Olson; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Vernon Hagen, Vernon “Chris” Christopher, Ronald Carlson, Tom Mueller, Thomas and Bette Goskeson and James and Norma Goskeson.

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Hospice in Albert Lea or Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the hospice workers and Terri Green for the excellent care they gave Irene at the end of her life.