Irene Grace Ketterman

HospiceCare Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties of Cancer.

Irene was born in Needville, Texas on October 10th, 1920 to Anna Teykl

and Napoleon (Babe) Bushnell. She was the first of three daughters.

Her father was a cotton and corn farmer but he left the farm life to establish a grocery store/ gas station / mechanics garage. Later, he established a number of businesses in the

little city of Thompsons, Texas near the oil fields to cater to the oil workers.

He established a restaurant, pool hall, barber shop, roller-skating rink and gas station.

Babe (her father) also created a shopping center and sawmill between Rosenberg and Richmond,Texas. Her mother (Annie) was a great seamstress, excellent cook, faithful Church member. She made many of her daughter's dresses and clothes.

Irene was delivered by mid wife since the doctor lived 20 miles away and couldn't get there in time. As a young child, their family store was located at 4 Corners where 2 roads intersected, one road led to the farming community, one led to her Grandparents Bushnell home, one road led to Grandparents Teykl home, and one road led to the town of Needville, Texas. She walked 2 miles one way a day to attend Marlowe Elementary School and in bad weather days her dad would take her to school on horseback. In her early years, she grew up with no electricity, no telephones, no TVs, no radios, no inside bathrooms. She didn't have any dolls or toys as a young girl. Her mother took her to church every Sunday and she was confirmed in the Presbyterian Church in Needville, Texas. As a child her father told her that she needed to learn the value of a dollar, so he sent her to pick cotton on her grandfather's and uncle's farms.

Irene graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Texas. She attended Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, Texas but left when Pearl Harbor was attacked. In 1945, Irene graduated from Massey Business College in Houston, Texas.

That summer she came to Boulder, Co. to attend college at CU as an English major and she was minoring in Physical Education. She met Robert E. Ketterman of Boulder at a CU Tea dance in 1945 and married him in June 1947. She never completed her degree at CU.

In July 1949, she gave birth to her 1st son, Tom and in August 1953, she gave birth to her 2nd son, Randy. Irene was a working mother throughout her life. She worked at American General Insurance. She worked at Schlumberger Oil Well Surveying Company.

Her first job in Boulder was at the Mayflower Moving Company. She worked at the Department of Interior in Denver for awhile. At times she was a saleswoman, selling Avon cosmetics and typewriters. She was an telephone operator both at Southern Bell and Mountain Bell. Later, she worked at Civil Defense Agency. She worked in the Psychology Department at CU. She was a floating secretary at CU for various departments.

She worked at the Mental Health Center. Later, she worked at the Physical Education Department at CU. She worked at the Department of Communications at CU. She worked as a secretary in Pay and Classification Department at National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Later, she was a floating secretary for NOAA.

Bob and Irene owned the Ability Employment Agency in Boulder and Bob interviewed

and placed the men in jobs while Irene did the same for the women. Irene was a food demonstrator at the Safeway stores in Boulder. When Bob and Irene were in their seventies they worked at Alfred Packer Grill at CU as food servers.

Bob and Irene retired from working when Bob was 80 and Irene was 82. Bob passed away at 82 and Irene lived a very active live after his death until 2 weeks after turning 90.

Bob and Irene Ketterman were members of the American Legion and Elks Club.

Bob and Irene were avid dancers and went dancing on a regular basis. They would go Square, Round , Waltz , Polka and Ballroom dancing all the time.

Irene and Bob took their camper trailers and motor homes throughout Colorado and few

other states. They loved to travel. Throughout the years they took many vacations by boat,

plane, train, car camping trailers, motor homes. Some of the state destinations were Hawaii, California, Nevada, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Some of the countries that they visited were Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, England, Egypt, Germany, and France.

Irene has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years and has been a

volunteer as a usher, a Church Sanctuary Cleaner , and a Sunday School teacher's aide for

over 30 years. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Presbyterian Women, Columbiners Club (Square and Round dancing), and Calico N Boots.

In her eighties, she took Senior Trips and Specialty Tours, went on trips in her

Motor, audited classes at CU, swam, went to: Ballets, Symphonies, Theater, Curves,

she played tennis, danced regularly every week (Square, Round, Waltz, Polka, Line,

Ballroom were all her favorites). Spent time with kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.

She loved watching the CU Buffaloes football, Broncos football and Rockies Baseball

Irene wrote 2 books on her memoirs after attending a class on Creative Writing in her 80's.

She titled them “I pinched myself” and “Roses among the Thorns”.

She sold many copies to family, friends, and CU classmates. One classmate who was

pursuing a Film career said he might make a movie of her life someday.

Preceded in death was her husband Robert E Ketterman of Boulder, CO, sister Ruth Albonesi (husband Henry (still living)of Holyoke, Massachusetts, sister Pearl Adams and husband Bill Adams of Houston, Texas

Survivors: include Son Tom of Boulder, Co. and son Randy (wife Debbie) of Westminster,Co.

Grandchildren: Kelly Rood (husband Tim Rood) of Castle Rock, CO, Jesse Ketterman (wife Claire) of Fort Collins, Jonathan Ketterman attending CSU in Fort Collins, Great Grandchildren: Deven, Jayden, Tatum, Liana, Alia, and Briella

A memorial Service will be held at 6 PM on Sunday December 19th 2010, at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder at 1820 15th St. with a reception following. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church 1820 15th St., Boulder, Colorado 80302 or HospiceCare Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 1855 Plaza Drive, Louisville, Colorado 80027

IRENE'S LIFE CUP OVERFLOWTH

God gave Irene a full earthly life and Jesus gave her the way for eternal life,

one without heartache, pain, and strive.

On October 10th, 1920, Irene was born in Needville,Texas in the USA (the land of the free)

She was Babe and Annie Bushnell's first daughter of three.

Many people her life did touch and as to activities she did so much.

She loved her lord, her family, her friends, her home, her possessions, and such and such

Places abundantly her eyes did see.

Full of lives' emotions and feelings she became to be

Today, looking back at her amazing life, one can agree

She attended the garden that God gave her and grew her family tree

With 2 sons, 3 grandchildren, and on Dec. 15th , 2010 her 6th great grandchild came to be

Yes, Irene, an abundant life was given to thee.

This is a tale about Irene Bushnell.

However, now Irene Ketterman is addressed on her mail.

Growing up in Texas, she was known as a Southern Belle.

She had two sisters and as to their relationship, strangers could tell.

But as to a brother, nope, there wasn't a male.

Her father was a small town businessman, who did quite well.

He was a model citizen, who never needed bail to get out of jail.

Her mother was also a sweet Southern Belle, who went to church every Sunday,

who enjoyed throwing parties and drinking vodka instead of ale.

Her father was a hard working man.

He generally worked outside and always had a tan.

He enjoyed humor, a great guy, so friends and family were always his fan.

He was a Southerner but never a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

For political office, he never ran.

A gambler he wasn't, so gold he never panned.

Nor was he a miser, so money he never canned.

He drove a Ford pickup truck, never a van.

A Ladies Man but married to the love of his life, Ann.

Her mother was lovingly known as Annie.

But her grandkids always called her Nanny.

She had many grandsons (me included) but not one Danny.

And only one granddaughter for her to be Granny.

She enjoyed to Polka until off came her fanny.

Her love for others was uncanny.

Cooking for others, kept her busy as a bee.

She gave her cooked goods away with love and never charged a fee.

Her husband could make her so mad that she couldn't see.

His endless teasing was the key.

Irene's middle sister's name was Ruth.

She was refined, graceful, and not uncouth.

She knew what she believed in, what she liked, and usually told the truth.

For her rights, Ruth would fight nail and tooth.

Irene's younger sister's name was Pearl.

She always looked beautiful, even as a girl.

Growing up in Texas, at times, her hair had that Southern Belle curl.

Young, living in the countryside, she wasn't city , she was rural.

In her early twenties, she married a handsome southern man named Bill not Earl.

Later in life, she became a model, she was a knockout, so pretty she made your head whirl.

As a model, she was no longer rural but a city Girl.

In her mid twenties, Irene left the hot south, not on a plane but a train.

A Colorado University adventure she would gain.

She wasn't arrogant or vain.

But she was all dressed up, coordinated, not a Plain Jane.

She left those cotton fields, oil fields, and sugar cane.

She came out west and what was the best, she met and married her John Wayne.

Unlike Texas, Colorado's springtime had cool mountain rain.

And the summertime weather wasn't a blistering pain.

Compared to Texas's fall trees, Colorado's Aspen leaves looked golder.

The winter snowy weather was usually colder.

She came into Boulder, meek and mild, but with time she got bolder.

Unlike a Email loader,

Hand written letters between family and friends were saved in a vanilla folder.

Not in a computer but in a metal holder.

When Annie called long distance, all the exciting news she told her.

In those days, as a CU coed, she wore pretty long dresses not hot pants.

She decided one Friday night to dress up and go to the CU Tea Dance,

Where she would unknowing find true romance.

She found her future husband, her life time love- What's the chance?

The native Boulderite caught her eye in a glance.

He asked her - her name and if she wanted to dance?

She was glad his name was Bob (an all American name), not a name like Lance.

One hand held hers, while her body was held with his other strong arm.

He guided her on the dance floor and turned on the charm.

However, exchanging likes and dislikes, he set off an alarm.

He mentioned disliking English Majors and Texans off the farm.

She told him - I'm sorry to tell you, I'm both. And I don't see the harm.

After that comeback and the way she looked,

Bob thought to himself, she was a good match, he was done, his goose was cooked..

Two years after Irene wed, a child she conceived after going to bed.

The intense pain of childbirth made her wish that she was dead.

The new mom named her first son - Tom (with a nickname of Toe Head).

Later, they thought a second child would be dandy. But the pain she would definitely dread.

When the second son was born, “His name will be Randy” – she said.

Both Irene and Bob worked hard to bring home the bread.

Because they had themselves and two boys to be fed.

Happy childhoods both Randy and Tom led.

Divorce hit many couples throughout the years, but Irene and Bob stayed married instead.

They met their wedding vows and only parted when one was dead.

Irene and Bob were a close couple and throughout the years they went on many vacations.

Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, England, Egypt, Germany, and France were all destinations.

Also, they traveled by boat, plane, train, car, and motor home across our great nation.

In Hawaii,California,Nevada,Mississippi,Tennessee,& Texas they made many reservations.

Massachusetts,Vermont,Kentucky,New York,& Pennsylvania were other state destinations.

The new sights, people, places, food, and souvenirs gave them wonderful sensations.

In the past, there were many jobs she would do.

However, she never worked at a zoo.

Even though some places seemed so and at times made her blue.

Working in her married life wasn't anything new.

A secretary, saleswoman, food server, long distance operator – she worked since I was two.

Alongside her husband, she worked in their own businesses to pay the bills that were due.

In their Employment Agency, Bob and Irene could get a job for you.

To say “ She was a working mother” is definitely true.

Seeing how her kids turned out, those against working mothers may change their view.

Throughout her work life, not one person wanted to sue.

She attended the First Presbyterian Church because she was a Christian, not a Jew.

On most Sundays,for over 30 years, she volunteered as a church usher and teacher aid, too.

Activities could have been Irene's middle name.

Sports like skiing, ice skating, softball, swimming, and tennis have all been her game.

Weekly watching the Buffaloes ,the Rockies, and the Broncos have been her aim.

Square, Round, Line, Country, Polka, Waltz and Ballroom dancing are all among her fame.

To many Concerts, Shows, Gyms, Sorority meetings, CU classes,& Science Fairs she came.

Attending childish activities with her kids, grandkids, & great grandkids, she felt no shame.

She was never lame, with high energy to all her activities she gave the same.

She has been One Amazing And Active Dame..

Kelly, Jesse, and Jonathan became her sons' offspring in her Grandmother stage.

Deven, Jayden, Tatum, Liana, and Alia are her Great Grandkids when reaching 90 of age.

A new Great Grand Girl was born in December at the turning of 2010's final calendar page.

Before dying of Cancer at Louisville Hospice Center on 12/09/10, 90 was her physical age.

The doctor told her that 60 was her health gage, and I told her that 20 was her mental stage.

Mom, we love you dearly and we hope in your spirit life– as Bob Dylan's song says-

“May your heart always be joyful.”

“May God's blessing keep you always. May your wishes all come true.”

“ May you always do for others and let others do for you.”

FOREVER YOUNG, FOREVER YOUNG, May your spirit stay FOREVER YOUNG.

Ket 12/15/10