Submitted by: Dan Rich

Irene M. Kuehl

July 18, 1922 - Dec. 1, 1996

South Bend Tribune 12/4/1996

Irene M. Kuehl, born July 18, 1922, in Franklin, Minn., to the late Cora and Randolph Engebrit, passed peacefully away, on Dec. 1, at the South Bend home she shared with her husband, George E. Kuehl, whom she married on Feb. 6, 1943. Their marriage brought forth four children and their marriage partners, Kathleen Haney of Barnum, Minn., Dan (Sherry Riffle) Kuehl of Denver, Colo., Tim (Diana Swank) Kuehl of Tomball, Texas, and Noreen (Francis) Yates of Monticello, Ind.

Grandchildren enjoyed and loved by Irene are Tammi Bone of Warsaw, Ind., Robin Haney of Denver, Colo., Scott Haney of South Bend, Ind., Ron Haney of Mishawaka, Ind., Worth Haney of Barnum, Minn., Marc Kuehl of Denver, Colo., Danielle Kuehl of Denver, Colo., Denise Kuehl of Tomball, Texas, and Trent Yates of Monticello, Ind.

Great-grandchildren, who called her ''Grandma-Grandma,'' are David Haney and Bethany Haney of Mishawaka, Ind. Although she had not yet met him, a new great-grandchild, Devon, was welcomed into the family through the marriage of Marc Kuehl to Devon's mother on Nov. 30, 1996. Also mourning the loss of Irene are her brothers and sister, Ray Engebrit of Arvada, Colo., Wallace Engebrit of Bigfork, Minn., and Gladys Whalen of St. Louis Park, Minn., and all of their children. Two brothers, Don Engebrit and Joe Engebrit, and one nephew, Gregory Engebrit, all from Minnesota, had preceded Irene in death.

Irene was a 20-year Tupperware manager in the Michiana area, and proudly drove the cars and vans provided by Tupperware. Her children kidded her, saying, ''If it doesn't come in Tupperware, it doesn't exist for Mom!'' Right until her unexpected passing, she was responsible for helping many women of all ages establish their own businesses.

In 1995 Irene also became a Shaklee distributor of food supplements, again helping others in their quest for proper nutrition.

Prior to the family's move to South Bend, Ind., in the 1960s, Irene was employed by Columbia records in Terre Haute, Ind., as a chemical analysist in the Plating Department. Her commute from her residence in Clinton, Ind., once included crossing the Wabash River by boat for several weeks when the only bridge out of town collapsed. Always giving the last of her energy, time, and resources to her beloved friends and family, without regard to the cost to herself. . .. till we meet again, Mom. In honor of her request, there will be no funeral service.