Irene Iben-Anderson

Irene Delores (Vagts) Iben-Anderson went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 19, 2022. Irene was born in Eldorado, Iowa in 1939, to Lawrence and Mabel (Scheelhaase) Vagts.  She attended a one-room school house in Eldorado and went on to graduate from North High School in West Union in 1957. After high school, Irene moved to Cedar Rapids where she met and married Earl Iben and had three children, Lee, Jeff, and Sarah.

Irene always loved coming back home while her family resided in Cedar Rapids and made it a priority to visit at least one weekend a month. It was a great time as her “city kids” got to experience the freedom of farm life by helping with chores, horseback riding, sledding down the hill behind the barn and staying out late playing with their cousins while Irene and her siblings often enjoyed a rousing game of Hearts around the family dining room table with Hee-Haw and Lawrence Welk playing on the TV in the background. Sunday mornings brought the whole family back together for coffee and lively conversation before church.  No doubt Irene’s opinionated views certainly warmed up the room. 

Irene thoroughly enjoyed her music and was fond of playing hymns on the piano. Unfortunately, the gift of music was lost on her three children.

As a result of her first marriage, Irene lived in Greensboro, NC, Omaha, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, and Raytown, MO. After too many years of being away from home, Irene and her three children returned to NE Iowa in 1978. 

Regardless of where she lived, Irene has always been devoted to assisting in her local church. Over the years she has served as choir director, youth group director, Sunday School teacher, and on various other committees. Irene built a successful career in the life insurance industry and to many of her clients she is fondly remembered as the “insurance lady.”  It was through her career in insurance that she ultimately reconnected and married the love of her life, Elvin Anderson in 2014.

Irene is survived by her three children, Lee (Polly) Iben of Riverside, IA, Jeff (Lori) Iben of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Sarah (Josh) Iben of Pasadena, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alexandra (Tom) Cahill, Niko (Alexa) Iben, Christian Iben, Xavian Iben, Brandon (Kaleigh) Iben, Jenna Iben, Harper Miller, and Hudson Miller, five great grandchildren, her brother John (Mary Ann) Vagts and brother-in-law Daryl Pape.

Irene is also survived by her husband of eight years, Elvin Anderson, and his loving family including his children Bruce (Sue) Anderson of Decorah, and Brenda (Duane) Taylor of Ossian. She is also survived by Elvin’s grandchildren Toni (Chris) Meyer, Jennifer (Christian) Off, Christopher (Amanda) Anderson, Wyatt Anderson, Michael Miller, Matthew Miller, and Danae Taylor, along with Elvin’s three great grandchildren.

A visitation will be 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022 at Burnham-Wood Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Tuesday.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Union, Iowa.

Burial will follow at St. Peter Cemetery in Eldorado, Iowa.

Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union, iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.