WATKINS – Irene Emma Kahle, 90, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Rosenhaven Nursing Home in Marengo. A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins with Father Craig Steimel officiating. Interment will be at St Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Watkins. A rosary will be said at 3:30 on Tuesday with visitation following from 4 to 7 pm. Irene was born on Jan. 3, 1926, on a farm south of Fairfax, to Edwin and Libbie (Volesky) Kvetensky. Irene graduated from Wilson High School in 1943 in Cedar Rapids. Irene worked for the Order of Railroad Conductors until she married Sylvester Herman Kahle on Nov. 18, 1946, at St Michael's Catholic Church in Norway. In December 1947, Sylvester and Irene moved to a farm near Watkins where they farmed all their lives. Irene was a member of St Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins all her married life and served as president of the Altar and Rosary Society for over 40 years. Irene is survived by daughter, Carolyn (Merrill) Mecklenburg, daughter Marchell Kahle, son James (Mary) Kahle, and son Robert (Marge) Kahle; 13 grandchildren: Michael (Sara) Mecklenburg, Melissa (Brett) Lerch, Thad Pickart, AF Lt Col Damien (Vanessa) Pickart, Rachel (Josh) Lathrop, Erin (Erik) Schulte, Christian (Audra) Kahle, Courtney (Zachary) Crowdes, Dustin (Sherri) Kahle, Brad, Cole, Danielle, and Savannah Kahle; 15 great-grandchildren: Abigail, Brody, and Kaitlyn Mecklenburg, Aidan and Reece Lerch, Caroline and Alex Pickart, Emme, Max, and Mary Lathrop, Calvin and Holley Irene Schulte, Drew and Nate Kahle, and Charlotte Crowdes.Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Sylvester, November 2nd, 2008, and a son Steven John Kahle in 1949: parents Edwin and Libbie Kvetensky, sister Lavona Kvetensky; mother-in-law Elinor (Herman) Kahle, brother/sister-in-laws: William and Thelma Serbousek, Letha Kahle Atherton, Raphael and Carleen Kahle, Francis and Bonnie Kahle, and many nieces and nephews. Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.