Irene Free

Irene G. Free, age 95 of Freeport, died Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 22 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Fred Timp concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church in Freeport. Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers, and the Goldenaires Senior Citizens will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Irene Gertrude Lembeck was born January 27, 1916 in Spring Hill, Minnesota to Henry and Emma (Utecht) Lembeck. On June 25, 1940 she married Charles Free at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Irene and Charles owned and operated the lumber yard in Freeport for 50 years.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers, and the Goldenaires Senior Citizens and was a member of the church choir for 60 years.

Survivors include her children, Ardith (Glen) Eiden of Golden Valley, Stewart (Sally) Free of Brighton, Michigan, and Mary (Dean) Westendorf of Burnsville; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and sister, Vicky (Bill) Allen of Melrose.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Free on September 30, 1993; parents; brothers and sisters, Roman Lembeck, Erwin Lembeck, Isabelle Gillies, Clarence Lembeck, Arthur Lembeck, Esther Kuite, Clara Sieben, and Urban Lembeck.

Serving as casket bearers will be Douglas Eiden, Paul Eiden, Chris Free, John Free, Nicholas Westendorf, and Ross Westendorf. Cross bearer will be Michael Eiden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Mother of Mercy Foundation.