Irene Bernice Sperling
Obituary
Irene Bernice Sperling, 86, of Newton, died Sunday (July 4,
2010) at Newton Medical Center.
She was born on Dec. 1, 1923, in Fairbury, Neb., the
daughter of Peter R. and Anna Thiessen Harms.
She graduated from high school in Paxton, Neb., in 1942, and
later attended Tabor College in Hillsboro.
Irene married Menno M. Sperling on June 14, 1946, at the
Mennonite Brethren Church near Paxton. They moved to Newton where they lived
for one year until moving to rural Harvey County to farm. Upon their
retirement, they returned to Newton.
Irene was baptized in 1933. She had been a member of the
Garden Mennonite Church of Hesston, First Mennonite Church of Newton and more
recently Grace Community Church of Newton.
Irene taught elementary school for three years near Madrid,
Neb., and Paxton. In 1966, she began working at Halstead Hospital and later in
Newton at Bethel Hospital, retiring in 1988.
Survivors include her sons, Randall Lee Sperling and his
wife LaVon of Lincoln, Neb., and Delbert Wayne Sperling and his wife Kathy of
Grant, Neb.; daughter, Jane Ann Busenitz and her husband Lester of rural
Newton; brothers, Melvin Harms of Dallas, Ore., Merlin Harms of Grant, Neb.,
Eldon Harms of Madrid, Neb., Dale Harms of Arkansas City and Jerry Harms of
Madrid; nine grandchildren, Charlotte Norris, Greg Busenitz, Sheila Crocivera,
Chad Busenitz, Marcy Ranfeld, Ryan Sperling, Jodi Flanagan, Monica Voss and
Tonya Jolly; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, on June
29, 1994; and two brothers, Herb and Lee Harms.
Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m.Wednesday at Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, where the family will receive friends from 6
to 8 p.m.
Graveside services and interment will be at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday at the Garden Church Cemetery, north of Halstead.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace
Community Church in Newton.
A memorial has been established with the library at Grace
Community Church. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home,
120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
