Irene M.Unruh

Irene Margarete (Thimm) Unruh died peacefully December 1, 2020 in Topeka, KS in the presence of her children from complications of COVID infection. She was born October 29, 1925 near Beatrice, Nebraska, daughter of William and Margarete (Penner) Thimm.  She grew up with her three siblings in the Beatrice Mennonite community and attended German School, Bible School and public schools graduating from Beatrice High School.  She attended Bethel College and obtained her Kansas Teaching Certificate and taught elementary school in Walton, KS.

Baptized by profession of faith in Beatrice, NE at age 19, she was a Mennonite until geography led to a change in membership to the United Methodist Church where she was a member and attended United Methodist Churches in Howard, Ottawa and most recently Susanna Wesley in Topeka.  She lived her faith through the end.

Irene courted (she asked him out first!) and married Allen Lee Unruh, son of Albert J. and Nina (Becker) Unruh on August 14, 1949.  They celebrated 55 years of marriage prior to Allen’s death in Sept. 2004.  After their marriage they moved to Utica, KS where both taught before moving to Howard, KS where Allen was an elementary principal and there, they welcomed Suzee and Greg. During several summers, they lived in Gunnison, CO. while Allen completed his master’s degree at Western State College of Colorado.  They moved to Ottawa in 1959 for Allen to become principal at Eugene Field Elementary School. Jeff was born in Ottawa.  When Allen required nursing care, they moved to Aldersgate Village in 2002, a United Methodist retirement community in Topeka, KS where she lived independently until she contracted COVID and required care.  She gave up driving in 2019 at the age of 93!

Besides teaching elementary school prior to having kids, Irene worked for a short time at Western Auto before becoming medical assistant and working for Ottawa Family Physicians and later, Dr. Edalati.

Irene was a kind, caring and service-oriented person who liked to do many things, most importantly spending time with and supporting Allen, the kids and grandkids and attending the many activities including so many sports and dance events, and concerts.  She loved celebrating major life events like birthdays and holidays, usually accompanied by handmade cards.  She also loved time with friends and extended family and was always ready to go on a picnic for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and especially liked hot dog roasts at Camp Chippewa, homemade ice cream and attending and hosting family reunions.  She enjoyed cooking and baking and sharing her creations with those around her.  Her family and her friends at Aldersgate looked forward to her cinnamon rolls.  Special highlights were her Oxford Service Forum Sunday School class and the monthly potlucks, as well as membership in the Association of Medical Assistants, her church circle and the Extension Homemakers Unit.  Irene served as Cub Scout and Boy Scout patrol and troop mother and Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader. She enjoyed singing in the choir, word games and puzzles, cross stitching, crafts, Family Camp at Camp Chippewa and her beloved Pinochle group.  She and Allen had many super fun, sight-seeing bus trips around the United States with special friends.  She always had time for and loved a cup of black coffee, and cheering for the Jayhawks basketball team.

Irene is survived by her three children, Suzanne K. (Unruh) Vinyardi and husband Jack, Olathe; Gregory K Unruh, Olathe; and Jeffrey K. Unruh and wife Julie (Little) Unruh, Topeka; Five precious grandchildren, Tad, Bethany and Kip Unruh, Kansas City, and Haley and Grant Unruh, Topeka; Daughter-in-law Bonnie B. Unruh, Olathe; Her sisters, Alice (Thimm) Wiebe and Marjorie (Thimm) Epp of Beatrice, Nebraska; Sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Regier) Unruh;  Eight Thimm nieces and nephews and six Unruh nieces and nephews plus many great-nieces and nephews;  and three Thimm and Penner cousins of the original 50.  She is also survived by many special friends.

Irene was preceded in death by Allen, her parents, parents-in-law, brother Randolph William Thimm and wife Rosa, two nephews and one niece-in-law, Martin Epp, Frank Wiebe and wife Beverly, three brothers-in-law, Donald A. Epp, Wilbur “Jack” Unruh, Norman Unruh and wife Rose; as well as by many special friends.

Irene requested cremation and wished for her Celebration of Life to be in-person when safety allows after the COVID is contained which will be scheduled at a future date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions (care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, Ottawa, KS) to:

Aldersgate Village (Topeka, KS)

Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church (Topeka, KS)

Camp Chippewa (Ottawa, KS)

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa (Ottawa, KS)

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