Irene C. Woitalla age 80 of Waverly, Minnesota passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She was born in a farmhouse outside of Roscoe, Minnesota on September 4, 1938. The daughter of Peter and Alvina (Schmitz) Kraemer. Irene was joined in Holy Matrimony to Edward S. Woitalla on October 7, 1959 in St. Anna, Minnesota. They were blessed with three sons, Joe, Jim and John. Ed suffered from kidney disease and Irene took care of him for many years until his death in 1979.

In her life, she enjoyed helping people by donating her time and was very giving of herself. She gave her time to many community activities, finding and donating items people needed, and was involved in foster care as a foster parent, group home and placements for children. Irene loved to entertain, hosting many dinner parties at her home, COF dinners, church events, card clubs, and enjoyed inviting anyone over for holidays when they didn’t have a place to go. Her other hobbies were many, to name a few-cooking, traveling, flowers, dancing, playing cards and anything that involved family.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Church as part of the finance committee, building committee, funeral assistance, religion class instructor, and was a Eucharistic minister. She was also part of the American Legion Auxiliary, a Booster member, city of Waverly election judge, sponsored and planned Joe Woitalla Fishing Expo, and helped organize many other various events.

Irene was employed by Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and his wife Muriel for many years as their secretary. Later she began to sell insurance, worked for the Mueller Agency, and then opened her own business, Shore Agency. Her son Joe joined the business. After selling that business, she continued to provide insurance under the Woitalla Agency. As part of the insurance world, Irene was on many insurance boards.

Irene is survived by her children: James (RoseMary) Woitalla, John (Amy) Woitalla, foster daughter Michelle (Alan) Loch; grandchildren: Daniel Woitalla, Mitchell (Grace) Woitalla, Jacob Marschall, Joshua Marschall, Jackson Marschall, Kaitlin (Trevor) Wendlandt, Kelsey Loch, Brendan Loch; Siblings: Roselin Jonas, Ervin (Ellie) Kraemer, Delroy (Janice) Kraemer, Delrose (Stanley) Symanietz, Alice (Bob) Koylinski, Erma (Donald) Klein, Marlene (Steve) Bresnahan; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Edward and son Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at the Church of St. Mary in Waverly, MN. Visitation was Monday, 4-8 PM with a 3:30 Rosary and 7:30 Prayer Service in St. Mary’s Parish Center. Visitation continued Tuesday, 9-10:45 AM prior to the Mass also in St. Mary’s Parish Center. Interment was in the church cemetery.