Irene Lucille Rappa

Irene Lucille Salzman was born on March 31, 1925, 11:25 PM, at 420 F Street in Lincoln, Nebraska to her parents Jacob (30) and Henrietta (Foltz) (26). Irene’s father, Jacob, was born in the Volga Region of the Black Sea in Russia and was of German descent. The Salzmans were shoe makers for many generations prior to emigrating from Germany to the Volga to America. Irene’s mother, Henrietta, was born in Chester, Nebraska, to German immigrants. The first language in the home was German. Jacob moved the family from Lincoln to Geneva, Nebraska, in 1935, where he operated a shoe repair shop. Eventually, Irene’s parents moved to Greeley, Colorado, in 1957 where Jacob and his brother, John, operated Salzman’s Shoe Repair Shop. Irene’s first cousin, George Salzman , still operates the Salzman Shoe Repair on 8th Street in Greeley. Her legal birth certificate was prepared by a midwife. When Irene’s sister, Lillian, visited her at Hospice on January 11th, she said that one should not always trust the midwives’ birth certificates prepared at that time. The midwife mistakenly recorded Irene as the sixth child born into her family and also mistakenly recorded her name as Lucille. Aunt Lillian corrected this misinformation by saying Irene was the 7th child and confirmed her first name as Irene with the middle name of Lucille. Seven was also Irene’s lucky number all through the years. Irene and her ten siblings were born in the following order: Pauline (deceased on 8th day of life), Fred, Henrietta, Henry, Katherine, Lillian, Irene, Edward, Donald, Elizabeth, and Delores.

Irene was Taufschein (baptized) on the 3rd of April, 1925, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She received her Certificate of Confirmation on June 5, 1938, at Grace Evangelistic Lutheran Church in Geneva, a commitment made even more precious in Irene’s memory by sharing it with her sister, Lillian. Born during the Roaring Twenties and growing to adulthood by the early 1940’s, Irene was an eyewitness to the wide-scale use of automobiles, telephones, motion pictures, electricity, and significant changes in lifestyle and culture we all find commonplace today. When she was four years old, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in the Great Depression, bringing years of worldwide gloom and hardship. Her family suffered along with the rest of the country, and in 1935, at the age of 10, they moved to Geneva. During what her family frequently called the Dirty Thirties (nicknamed because of the dust bowl years), the family grew huge gardens for their food, and all the children worked hard in the family gardens for food and income. Life was hard, and the lessons learned during this time period followed Irene throughout her life and were portrayed through her resourcefulness. On May 24, 1939, Irene earned her Public School Diploma from Fillmore County, Nebraska, and entered high school. When she was a freshman in high school, Irene moved from her parents’ home, finding room and board as a live-in nanny and housekeeper with a local family.

While in high school, Irene decided to teach herself to twirl a baton. She cut a broom stick and placed two balls on the ends. She designed and made her Majorette Uniform and performed with the Geneva High School Band. Her home economics teacher told her that she had a “million dollar smile” and advised her to always show it off, and she did! Her math teacher recognized Irene’s twirling and leadership abilities which eventually led to Irene’s teaching baton twirling in the elementary school. Irene also handed down baton twirling to her sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth carried the art to another level by learning to twirl fire and then passed the talent to their “baby” sister, Lorley (Delores). Irene and her sisters also taught Roger and Gloria twirling skills, and they both became child mascots―Roger for Geneva High School Band and Gloria for Sutton, Nebraska High School Marching Band. Irene’s inspiration was seen when Gloria taught young girls baton classes at the Loveland, Colorado, Washington Park. Irene made Gloria’s fire baton uniforms for Loveland High School Homecomings 1961-64. Irene’s father, Jacob, made the fire batons. Even in her hospice bed, she liked telling baton twirling stories.

On October 8, 1942, Irene married Lloyd E. Pearson in Mankado, Kansas. Her three children from this marriage were Rodger E. (1945), Gloria J. (1947), and Donald P. (1950). Lloyd was in the US Navy, farmed in the Sutton area, and worked at the Navy Ammunition Depot in Hastings. Irene worked on the farm, at the Hastings Ammunition Depot, and Dan’s Café in Sutton. The family then moved to Iowa in 1952 and operated the OK Café and Chuck’s Drive Inn in Churdan.

The early 40’s brought America’s involvement in WWII. Irene’s family joined the war effort, beginning a tradition of her and the Salzman family contributing to and supporting the freedoms Americans hold today. Her siblings, Henry, Lillian, Edward, and Donald, served during WWII, and each of Irene’s husbands were also in the military and served in WWII on both the Pacific and European campaigns. Irene worked at the Hastings, Nebraska, Navy Ammunition Depot during WWII and was an Auxiliary member of the VFW Post 41 in Loveland, Colorado. After supporting soldiers and helping at home as a wife and sister during one war, she supported troops as a mother during another war. Two of her sons and son-in-law all served in the Vietnam War. Roger Thornton served in the Air Force in photo intelligence, with most of his deployment in Korat, Thailand and DaNang, Vietnam. Donald Thornton served in the US Navy aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Buchanan, stationed off the coast of Vietnam attached to the Western Pacific Fleet. Doug Margheim served in the US Navy aboard the communications ship, USS Annapolis, in the Gulf of Tonkin and the destroyer, USS Rowan, stationed in the same area. Irene's heart was again panged but proud as a Grandmother when Ryan Thornton entered the service during the era of the Iraq War. She stood aside in awe of his eleven year career which afforded him to finish his double Masters in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics while he completed BS in nursing. Ryan finished his Nurses Corp career in Anchorage Alaska as a Captain winning multiple awards and medals but the highlights of those were: Airman of the Year, OTS Top Graduate, Juanita Redmond Award (Nurse Corps CGO of the Year for the Air Force World Wide), Expert Marksman 9mm/M16 Medal, AF Achievement Medal, AF Accommodation Medal...and the beat goes on.

On October 19, 1956, Irene married Norman G. Thornton from Churdan, in Clay Center, Nebraska. Norman had served in the Army in Berlin in WWII. Later that month, they and their three children headed for Grand Junction, Colorado, where Norman would be employed building the Glen Canyon Dam which formed Lake Powell in Utah. As fate would have it, a huge snow storm stranded the family at the King’s Court Motel (Fit for a Queen) in Loveland, Colorado. While waiting there, Norman found a job as a finish carpenter and secured temporary rental housing for the family. Norman eventually became an independent home builder. A construction accident ended his building career which led to employment with the US Postal Service until he retired. While in Loveland, Irene worked hard at the Branding Iron Café, as a checker at the local Safeway Grocery store, and in production at the local Hewlett-Packard Plant. It was in Loveland where Irene gave birth to her fourth child, Gene R. (1959). Norman’s US Postal job moved the family to Aurora, Colorado in 1969. In Aurora, Irene worked for the Aurora Public Schools as a cook in the elementary schools of Peoria, 6th Avenue, and Wheeling, and also Gateway High School. Later, Irene worked at May D & F (The Denver), a department store in the Aurora Mall. She was a gifted and brilliant seamstress and incorporated her talents and “million dollar smile” while working in the men’s suit department. She retired in 1998. They were members of Loveland Methodist Church and Aurora Hills Baptist Church.

In April, 1985, Irene married Stanley Morrison. Stanley was a retired jet engine repairman with the Air Force and National Guard. While married to Stan in the 1980’s and 1990’s, she enjoyed and mastered Square Dancing, Clogging, and Ballroom Dancing. Irene and Gloria even tap danced and twirled batons together in 1996 for a talent show at Windsor Gardens where Stan and Irene lived. Irene was a fierce competitor at bowling. For years, she carried a 150 average with her highest score being 258, winning many tournaments, trophies, and pins. During this time, she also played softball on a co-ed team that competed in the Senior Olympics. She laughed about being the only “co” on the team!

On December 5, 2003, Irene married Vincent Rappa. Vincent was a decorated WWII, Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Bulge Veteran, having been awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Medal, and Silver Star. Irene promoted Vincent’s band and enjoyed Vincent’s talent and dancing as the band played their Big Band and Pop numbers in the Aurora area at Senior Dances.

Following major health issues, Irene moved to the Johnson Christian Living Center. She loved living in her own apartment and participated in many of the activities they offered. Even in this environment, she felt it was important to be as independent as possible, taking charge of her many medications because she felt she could do it better, and she did. She attended a Bible study until her hearing became a barrier and remained competitive with gaming activities, including Chinese Checkers, Checkers, Kings In The Corner, Pokeno, and Bingo. However, the highlights of her life were visits from family. When great-grandchildren came to visit her, she would have her home made games waiting for them. Many of them were games she invented and played with her children when they were young. In her room, she taught the great-grandchildren our family games of Pin The-Tail-On-The Donkey, Penny-Penny: Who Has The Penny, Drop the Quarter In The Bucket, and The Treasure Hunt game in which she guided the kids with hints that they were getting hot or cold as they would search near and far for the hidden quarters. She loved playing Pinochle with Doug and Gloria the last several years. This heated competition became a more serious twice-a-week event the last year. Each game would begin by her saying “you’re going down!” Irene beat the pants off them the last time they played on December 26, 2013. She was lucky enough to be dealt a Run, Double Marriage, Round of Aces, and Double Pinochle all in one hand. Now that’s a lucky hand. Doug and Gloria went home battered, but the great-grandchildren left with smiles on their faces and quarters in their pockets.

Irene’s Special Talents

Until her retirement, Irene worked hard all her life with her heart and passion dedicated to raising her four children. She was an accomplished seamstress, a skill she learned from her mother and Grandmother Foltz. She passed down this skill to Gloria who continues to keep the talent alive by teaching her granddaughter and daughters-in-love. Irene could make anything from nothing. She was always dressing up ordinary items with a little fringe or lace to make them a little fancier. With the ability to measure and make her own pattern, she hardly ever used one when she was sewing. In 1970, after Roger came home from the service, he asked Mom to make a ski outfit from a picture he provided. She went to the fabric store, purchased the same type of material, and replicated the outfit without a pattern. Roger was the envy of his ski buddies. Irene made many baton twirling, tap dance, and Rag Day skit costumes for Gloria and her friends. Rag Day was a long standing tradition at Loveland High School and helped to raise money for the football team. The costumes included country dresses like those on the TV show Petticoat Junction for the skit “Darrietts”; clown suits for “Here Come The Clowns,” and black striped convict suits for Gloria’s senior year’s skit. Irene sponsored Don’s Freshman Rag Day skit, “Lazy Boys,” and made the work over-alls―again with no patterns. When Gene attended Gateway High School, he participated in the Drama Class’s performances. She made many costumes including his Snoopy jumpsuit costume for the Peanuts Play―without a pattern; and a sexy dress (cut on the bias) for the leading lady in the play, Anything Goes. Even the grandchildren and great grandchildren were blessed with Sesame Street Ernie dolls made without patterns. Irene gleamed as she sat with Lauren while they created Floyd, the pig, and Gordon, the fish, when she visited Jeff’s family in Florida. Did we mention, all with no patterns.

Irene’s cooking was second to none. If you ever ate around her table, you left satisfied and wanting to eat there again. In the 1970’s, Don would catch trout and enjoyed her huge “million dollar smile” as he supplied to her his big catch. She always loved and snickered at the fishing tales about the fishing trips her boys and grandsons and great grandchildren enjoyed together. She continued to cook her German food for special occasions.

Irene’s resourcefulness was intertwined within her entrepreneurial spirit. When she was raising her children, money was tight. When extra spending money was needed, she would teach them to figure out a way to earn it. This lesson birthed the era when she taught the Thornton kids how to create games and invite neighborhood kids to come one and come all to the Penny Carnivals set up in the Thornton’s back yard on Cleveland Street in Loveland. Don enjoyed his mom being his Cub Scout Den Mother. With her supervision, Don made a balsa wood race car that won first place at the City’s Cub Scout Tournament held in the old Lincoln Grade School gym in Loveland, Colorado.

Her life was devoted to her “kids.” Her labors of love were extremely evident for Gloria’s wedding in 1966. Irene designed and made Gloria’s cathedral wedding dress and veil. She made 28 covered buttons and placed them on the gown as a memory that Gloria was a bride on the 28th day of August. She also made the four attendant dresses, the candle-lighter’s dress and flower girl dress. She treasured her “boys” and passed her competitive spirit and never-give-up attitude down to them. Roger retired from international sales 2011. Don is an excellent finish carpenter which he used for family income through the years and obtained an early retirement from the US Post Office due to an old Navy injury. Gene is an Attorney at Law. Gloria also had a short lived business career in the 70’s and 80’s and has been married to Doug since 1966. We all owe our successes to our Mom’s influences. She used her talents to shower us with love, and she exemplified the skills of hard work, resourcefulness, and a never-give-up mindset to the future generations of her family.

On New Year’s Eve, 2013, after continuing deteriorating health, Irene requested to be moved “across the street” to Porter Hospice. Irene transitioned to her Eternal Home on January 17, 2014 at 1:48 AM. Irene certainly can claim the reputation of being a contributor to the work of The Greatest Generation. She is loved and will always be missed.

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Irene is survived by two devoted sisters, Lillian Crosley of Loveland, Co, and Delores Lynch of Charlottesville, Va., and her children, Roger Thornton and Darlene Stromberger of Lone Tree, Co, Doug and Gloria Margheim of Aurora, Co., Don Thornton of Akron, Co., and Gene Thornton and Wendy Bliss of Colorado Springs, Co. She is also survived by her grandchildren, The Magnificent Seven (with one already in heaven), and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by her 3 granddaughters-in-law (Joy Margheim, Sarah Margheim, Amanda Thornton) and two grandsons-in-law (Chad Shane and Trent Babish). Irene is also survived by at least 50 nieces and nephews and many grand-nieces and nephews.

The Honorary Pallbearers are her grandchildren listed in birth order: Shaun Margheim, Jeffrey Margheim, Ryan Thornton, Michelle (Thornton/Braddock) Shane, Jerad N Thornton, Jeremy Thornton (In Heaven), Nicole (Thornton) Babish. Irene’s great grandchildren are Lauren, Holden, Alison and Sammy Margheim, Daniel and Elyssa Thornton, Aidan and Colin Shane, and Trista and Colette Gunther.