Irene Pohlmann

Irene A. Pohlmann, age 89 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. A rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. by the Christian Mothers, Catholic United Financial, and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Irene Agnes Koopmeiners was born April 7, 1929 in St. Francis, Minnesota to Herman and Florence (Pohlmann) Koopmeiners. She attended country school graduating in 1943 and then achieving her GED in 1986. Irene married Francis “Lawrence” Pohlmann on July 6, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple farmed together and raised a family of 12. After moving into town she volunteered as a Sacristan at St. Mary’s and visited many sick and homebound parishoners. Irene was also the secretary for the VFW for many years.

Irene was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, the Christian Mothers, Catholic United Financial, and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary. She enjoyed bowling, playing cards with her family and friends, traveling, gardening, canning, sewing, and watching the Minnesota Twins.

Survivors include her children, Kathy (Dave) Welle of Freeport, Fred Pohlmann of Willmar, Dan (Ruth) Pohlmann of Sauk Centre, Patty Ahrens of Long Prairie, Rita (Jim) Geehan of Ham Lake, Eileen (Butch) Schneider of Cold Spring, Henry (Mary) Pohlmann of Melrose, Teresa (Bill) LeClaire of St. Cloud, Carla (Dave Anderson) Hinnenkamp of St. Cloud; son-in-law, Mark Vener; 26 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Mary Jane Austing, Florentine Roering, Jerry Koopmeiners, Carol Klaphake, and JoAnn Zenzen.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Francis “Lawrence” Pohlmann; parents, Herman and Florence; children, David Pohlmann, MaryAnn Vener, and Bernard Pohlmann; daughter-in-law, Karen Pohlmann; granddaughter, Tara Pohlmann; and siblings, Elmer Koopmeiners, Margie Roering, Bert Koopmeiners, Jim Koopmeiners, and Joyce Koopmeiners.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mitchell Hinnenkamp, Keaton LeClaire, Eric Pohlmann, Jonathan Carver, Micki Orbeck, Melissa Heidgerken, Brenda Nathe, and Peter Welle. Cross bearer will be Vera Ritter and scripture bearer will be Andy Welle. Lectors will be Kayla Disch, Jennifer Hinnenkamp, and Kevin Welle. Gift bearers will be Lisa Berry, Kali Pohlmann, and James Geehan. Presentation of roses will be by Kyle LeClaire, Shari Wiechmann, Aaron Pohlmann, Shannon Pohlmann, Kelsey LeClaire, Tim Welle, Ryan Welle, Christopher Welle, Joel Welle, Sandy Kunstleben, and Sara Clarys.