Obituary for Irene Evelyn Smith
Irene was born Dec. 24, 1929, on the family farm between Altamont and St. Elmo in Effingham County, the daughter of Edwin Christian Martin Grobengieser and Alma Friederiche Wilhelmina (Ferchow) Grobengieser. She married David Warren Smith on Jan. 21, 1948, in Altamont, and after 51 years of marriage he preceded her in death on July 19, 1999.
Grateful to have shared her life are her children, David Smith and wife Ruth Ann (Heimgartner) of Altamont, Ruth Ann (Smith) Farris of Toledo, and Gina (Smith) Moulder and husband Robert “Bob” of Centralia; eight grandchildren, James Farris and wife Peggy (Craig) of Mattoon, Travis Farris of Morton, Katherine Smith of Gainesville, Fla., Charles Farris and fiancée Elizabeth "Liz" Kopp of Toledo, Andrew Smith and wife Elizabeth “Liz” (Wahl) of East Dundee, Lucas Moulder, Samuel Moulder, and Adam Moulder, all of Centralia; a brother, Arlin Grobengieser and wife Lillian (Wolff) of rural St. Elmo; brother-in-law: Lloyd Smith of Mt. Zion; step-grandchildren, Jeff Farris and Sharon Kay (Farris) Bass, both of Mattoon; great-grandchildren, Chester Trueblood, Briana Farris, Travis "TJ" Farris, and Ivette Farris, all of Mattoon, and Hunter Smith of East Dundee; great-great-grandchildren, Rylie Irene Farris and Braxley Trueblood; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Linda Lou Smith; brother, Kenneth Grobengieser; sons-in-law, Charles Farris Sr. and William Helmbacher; step-grandchildren, Karen Farris and Eddie Farris; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Marie (Smith) Bannick, Earl Smith and wife Shirley (Wright), Evelyn (Smith) Clagg and husband Charles, Nadine (Smith) Antonides and husband Lee, Maxine (Smith) Belinsky and husband Frank, Mary Ann (Herron) Smith, and Hubert Smith and wife Bernadine "Bunny" (Coleman).
Irene was a life-long member of Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of America on Route 40 in Altamont, where she was baptized Dec. 29, 1929, and confirmed her faith March 29,1942. Hard work and a strong faith were part of her daily family life.
An accomplished seamstress, Irene enjoyed hand-quilting, embroidery work, and making quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. She served on the St. Paul quilting group, In Stitches, since 1995 and enjoyed making the many tied or knotted quilts that they made and donated locally and around the world.
In their earlier years, Irene and her husband Warren owned and operated Irene’s Eggs and a phosphate business. She was a homemaker and a farmwife, and also worked at Fedders Air Conditioning in Effingham from 1966 to 1995. She enjoyed gardening and all kinds of fancy work, but most of all she enjoyed time spent with her friends and family. While she was small of stature, she was mighty in her faith, positivity, and humor, with a quick wit, amazing memory, and a touching smile that will be fondly remembered.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
3
Dec
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Kull Funeral Home Altamont
114 West Washington Ave.
Altamont, IL 62411
Service
Sunday
4
Dec
2:00 PM
St Paul Evangelical Lutheran
2293 US-40
Altamont, IL 62411
Visitation at the church one hour prior to funeral service.
Cemetery Details
Location
St Paul ECLA Cemetery
2293 US-40
Altamont, IL 62411
Memorial Contribution
Lutheran Care Center
St. Paul ELCA Cemetery
In Stitches
Jonah's Fostering Christmas One Toy
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