Irene Rydl

Irene Carol Rydl, 98, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA.

Irene was born August 28, 1922, in Adair County, IA, to Raymond and Martha (Kirchhoff) Fowble. She was one of ten children and the last surviving sibling. She grew up and spent her entire life in the Anita area.

On November 2, 1945, she married Lewie Joseph Rydl, and they made their home on a farm just north of Anita where they farmed for many years. They were blessed with one daughter, Mary Lou. After Lewie passed away, Irene stayed on the farm until June of 2019 when she moved to Caring Acres and Rehab in Anita.

Irene was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. She served as a Eucharist minister for many years. She was a member of the Catholic Women Organization and the Legion Auxiliary, and she served for several years as a volunteer escort for the Anita blood drive. Irene was always on hand to assist with Church dinners, funeral luncheons, and Saturday night bingo meals.

Irene was a hard worker and acted as Lewie’s hired hand on the farm when it came to making fence, picking corn, making hay, walking beans and all the other hundreds of farm duties that needed done. She loved to mow her yard and play in the garden, but she also loved to bake and make homemade noodles. When you could get her off the farm, Irene also enjoyed trips to California, Texas and Hawaii. Irene enjoyed needle work and crochet, and she had a large bell collection where many of them were gifted to her from her daughter and dear friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lewie; in-laws, Lewis and Mary Rydl; sisters, Erma Baier, Geraldine Wheatley, Helen Fowble and Zudora Fowble; and brothers, Ralph, Harold, Gerald, Junior, and infant LeRoy Fowble.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Lou (Arthur) Hoskins; grandson, Terry Hoskins (friend Billie Hoover – Atlantic) of Anita; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Open visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, IA. A lunch will be provided following the mass, also at the church. Burial will take place following the lunch, at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Exira, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the family of Irene Rydl and will be designated at a later date.

Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa, is handling the arrangements.