Irene J. Neitzke

NORFOLK – Funeral service for Irene J. Neitzke, 85, of Norfolk, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2026 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Rev. Terry Buol will be officiating the service. Interment will be at the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, also at Stonacek Funeral Chapel, Norfolk. Irene passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Stanton Health Center in Stanton. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Irene was born on November 9, 1940 in rural Pierce, Nebraska to Alfred and Emma (Reed) Koehler. Irene attended grade school in Pierce and then attended Pierce High School, later earning her GED. She married Leon Neitzke on July 7, 1957 in Freeport, Illinois and to this union they had three daughters, Debora, Linda, and Nanette. They later divorced. After marriage the family moved from Freeport, IL to Norfolk in 1961. She worked at Valley View Nursing Home for 1 year, Dale Electronics for 2 years, and then began working at Heritage of Bel-Air Nursing Home in 1975. Irene worked there for 37.5 years until she retired in 2013 as laundry supervisor. She was a Girl Scout Leader for 4 years and a past member of Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk. She enjoyed watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers, embroidering, traveling, raising her cat, and she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include her daughters Debora (James) Robertson of York, NE, Linda (Marvin) Anderson of Harlan, IA, 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, son-in-law Terry (Brenda) Halvorson of Yankton, SD, sister Norma Kollmar of Riverbank, CA, sister-in-law Donna Koehler of O’Neill, sister-in-law Sharon Koehler of Norfolk, sister-in-law Sharon Koehler of Missouri, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Emma Koehler, daughter Nanette Halvorson, four sisters Delores (Bill) Crow, Elsie (Dennis) Acklie, Phyllis (James) Jones, Darlene (Roy) Zautke and Darlene’s first husband George Barrett, four brothers Clarence Koehler, Dennis Koehler, Herman Koehler, Ervin (Betty) Koehler, and brother-in-law Roger Kollmar. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Irene J. Neitzke

November 9, 1940 - May 30, 2026