Irene Hartzler

A celebration of life for Irene Hartzler, 93, of Marion, formerly of Kalona, will be held Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Burial will follow at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. Visitation will be held Wednesday morning from 9:30 AM until the service. A memorial fund has been established for Breast Cancer Research. Irene Hartzler died Friday, July 19, 2019, at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion, Iowa.

Irene (Merritt) Hartzler was born July 7, 1926, in Springville, Iowa, the daughter of Gerald and Martha (Benton) Merritt. She graduated from Marion High School. On June 15, 1950, she was united in marriage to Francis Eugene “Gene” Hartzler. After high school, she worked at Hall’s Photography and after her marriage, she was a homemaker and did in-home daycare and housekeeping. Irene enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, crocheting, crafts, gardening, playing cards, baking and camping, and fishing.

Survivors include two children: Connie Moellers of Marion, Jerry (Mary) Hartzler of Kalona, three grandchildren: Melissa (Martin) Lacina, Kerstin (Kristopher) Marnin, Renae Becker, eight great-grandchildren: Claire, Charlotte, Lauren, Eva, Oliver, Noah, Avery and Zayla, and one brother, Edward (Bea) Merritt of Virginia.

Preceding Irene in death were her parents, her husband Gene, a sister Vera McCann and a brother Lewis Merritt.