Irene L Vonne Howard, June 11, 1921 — February 27, 2019

Irene’s Obituary Irene Howard, age 97, of Mankato, died Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at home. Celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato with Pastor Steve Kidder officiating. Private family burial will be in Sterling Cemetery, rural Mapleton, MN.

Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Irene was born on June 11, 1921 to George and Cora Sharp near Mapleton, Minnesota. She graduated from high school at 16 and earned a two-year teaching degree at 18.

While in college, a handsome cow tester came to her family’s farm, and her great romance with Byron M. Howard of Spring Grove began and never ended. They even worked around WWII, planning their garden wedding in a week while Byron was home on leave in 1942. After the war, Irene and Byron bought and worked a farm near Mapleton.

Irene was a great entertainer and presenter as Byron advanced in the insurance business. They moved to Redwood Falls and then on to Falcon Heights, Minnesota in the early sixties. At fifty, Irene returned to college, obtained her bachelor’s degree from the U of M, and taught K-12 grade hearing-impaired children.

After retirement, Irene and Byron moved to their cabin on Portage Lake where they entertained grandchildren, friends and relatives. They danced their way around Sun City West, Arizona during the winters. Eventually, they lived full time in Mankato, Minnesota.

Irene was an accomplished artist, poet, and writer. She began writing poetry when she was eleven years old and continued to write throughout her life. She published three books of poetry and as a tribute to her parents a novel.

Irene also found time to paint in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. She was generous in giving her art to family and friends. Irene had four children, Gary (Chris), Byron Lee (Connie), Carole Lund (Ronn), and Steven (Barbara).

Her husband, Byron M.; and son, Byron L.; preceded her in death, as did her mother; father; three sisters, Rachel, Effie, Kathryn; and two brothers, Everett and Robert. Irene was a wonderful grandmother to 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Irene lives on in her books, poetry, artwork, and in the joyful reminiscing of her offspring.

She was much loved and will be missed forever. Memorials may be made in Irene’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of choice.

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