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Obituary for Irene Berklund
Irene, 93, passed away peacefully at the United Pioneer Home in Luck, WI, on September 2, 2008. She was born in Minneapolis on June 24, 1915, to the late Haakon and Inga Marie Stavseth. She moved with her family to West McKinley when she was three years old. She attended Fehling School for eight years. She attended high school in McKinley and Cumberland. After attending Polk County Normal School, she taught for nine years in rural schools. She continued her education by attending River Falls College. On August 15, 1942, she was united in marriage to Norman Berklund and they farmed the Berklund homestead that had been owned by his grandparents. In 1966 they moved to a smaller farm in the Luck area. Irene also worked at the YoYo factory in Luck and the Alcan Manufacturing Company in Centuria and Milltown. Irene and Norman enjoyed a full life which included gardening, traveling to Alaska and Canada, making maple syrup, playing cards and going to the cabin and canoeing with family and friends. Irene was the grandmother every child hoped for. Who could forget the cinnamon rolls and the many card games? Families were always welcome at the farm and the more the merrier. She always had time to listen to the successes and challenges of the grandchildren and made them feel so special, because they all were special to her. She was a lifetime member of the McKinley United Methodist Church and a member of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Polk County Homemakers and the Evergreen Chapter of the Eastern Star for many years. Irene is survived by five children: Bruce (Nancy) Berklund, Margie (Bruce) Giebel, Polly (Jim) Vilstrup, Bryan (Carol) Berklund, and Peter (Sheila) Berklund. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, brother-in-law, Raymond (Helen) Berklund and sister-in-law, Irene (Chuck) Hansen. Irene is preceded in death by her loving husband, Norman; her parents, Haakon and Inga Stavseth; Norman’s parents, Mattie and Maurice Berklund; sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Rolf Lindell; two brothers, Harold and Ralph; Beatrice Grant and Edna Berklund. Visitation will be held at Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, WI, on Friday, September 19th, from 5 –7 PM. Visitation will also be held prior to the service on Saturday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. A memorial service will be held at the McKinley Trinity Lutheran Church in McKinley Township – Cumberland, WI, on Saturday, September 20th, at 11 AM with Rev. Anne Tricker officiating. Lunch will be served at the church. Rowe Funeral Home of Luck, Wisconsin, was entrusted with funeral arrangements. For information call 715-472-2444.
