Irene Hilda Kalmbach

She grew up on the family farm, was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsville, Missouri and graduated from Wellsville High School. Upon graduation she worked as switchboard operator for the local phone company. Irene was a lifelong Lutheran and met a Texan, Marvin Kalmbach, through a Lutheran church pen pal program. Irene and Marvin married in 1951 in Wellsville. After a short time in Missouri they settled in Marlin, Texas where Irene became a Licensed Vocational Nurse and worked for many years at Torbert Hospital and later as Dr. William Pickvance's office nurse.

Mrs. Kalmbach was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Marlin for over 70 years and was active in all aspects of the church. Irene was an avid game player and was always ready for a game of dominoes, rummy, or chicken foot. For the past 3 and½ years she was a resident of Briarview Senior Living Center in Carrollton where she taught many residents there how to play chicken foot.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, her parents, a brother Henry Boeckelman, and a sister Evelyn Weilmuenster. She is survived by her son Larry Kalmbach and Deana, her daughter Karen Morrison and Robert, sister Joyce Pilliard, brother Leroy Boeckelman, grandchildren Matthew Kalmbach, Adam Kalmbach, Eric Kalmbach, Ashley Morrison Zubizarreta, and Kimberly Morrison, eight great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 17, at Calvary Cemetery in Marlin with Reverend Kurt Rutz officiating.