Irene G. Gulrud

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 12:13 pm

Irene G. Gulrud, 85, of Decorah, passed away Friday, May 26, 2017, from a short illness and with her family by her side at the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel, Minn. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Pastor Kurt Bockoven officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and Wednesday beginning at 9:30 a.m., one hour before the service, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah served the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com. Casket bearers were Irene’s grandsons, Travis McIver, Lucas Aske, Dan Christopher, Steven Christopher, Dillon Christopher, Kirk Bidne, Jared Bidne, Max Bruening, Owen Bruening, Brandon Gulrud and Cael Gulrud. Honorary bearers were Irene’s grandaughters and great-grandchildren: Rachael Dykstra, Tiffany Smith, Michelle Miller, Kari Callahan, Lexy Young, Lindsay Lloyd, Ashley Gulrud, Mitchell Pederson, Morgan Pederson, Dana Dysktra, Zoe Dykstra, Natalie Dykstra, Garrick Smith, Gavy Smith, Gabe Smith, Olivia Christopher, Ella Christopher, Ellie McIver, Layla McIver and Nile Christopher. Organist was Kathryn Thompson. Hymns were “The Old Rugged Cross,” “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Go Rest High on that Mountain.”

Irene was born May 17, 1932, in Decorah, to Theodore and Amanda (Sande) Berge. She was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church and attended a rural school in Winneshiek County. Irene married Gene Gulrud March 3, 1952. To this union, they had eight children. They divorced in 1985.

Irene worked at the Cliff House Restaurant, Oneota Care Facility and Oneota Bowling Lanes where she was well known for her good food. Anyone who knew her knew she was a hard worker and loved and cared for her family. She loved cooking and baking for her kids and grandkids and enjoyed bowling, stock car races – especially watching her grandsons, son and son-in-law – and keeping up on all sports. Irene had a humor of her own that all of her family loved to enjoy. She had a love for music and her family will always remember her whenever they hear her favorite song ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’ by Bob Seger. Irene was known for being very strong-willed and was truly one of a kind.

She is survived by her eight children: Karen (Phil) Kennedy of Burlington, Ill., Debbie (Jon) Aske of Decorah, Michel Gulrud of Dyersville, Garry (LeAnn) Gulrud, LeAnn (Richard) Geiselhart, David (Heather) Gulrud, Doreen (Kevin) Bidne, and Denise (Jim) Bruening all of Decorah; 18 grandchildren: Travis (Kim) McIver, Rachael Dykstra, Lucas Aske, Tiffany (Weylin) Smith, Michelle (Will) Miller, Kari (Doug) Callahan, Dan (Melinda), Steven (Kelli), and Dillon Christopher (Shelby Lindmark), Ashley, Brandon and Cael Gulrud, Kirk and Jared Bidne, Lexy (Ryan) Young, Lindsay Lloyd, Max and Owen Bruening; 13 great-grandchildren and one due in October; and by her three sisters: Shirley Forde and Bernice (Paul) Arneson of Decorah and Lucille (Norman) Jacobson of Loveland, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Theodore and Amanda Berge; her grandparents Engebert and Sarah Sande, Ole and Teoline Berge; and her brother-in-law Omar Forde.