Person:Irene Papachek (1)

From the July 20, 2004, edition of the Devils Lake (ND) Journal

Irene Genevieve Papachek Carlson

The gates of heaven opened and welcomed home Irene Genevieve Papachek Carlson at 7:05 a.m. on July 16, 2004. After a short battle with cancer, she left her earthly home and the farm she loved so dearly surrounded by her children.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Warwick Lutheran Church, Warwick, ND. Rev. David Nichols will officiate and burial will be in the Warwick Community Cemetery. There will be Congregational Hymns and special music with Roger Forde as organist.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. led by Deloris Enstad, Lay Minister. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Pallbearers will be all of Irene's grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers will be all of Irene's loving family and many friends.

Irene Genevieve Papachek, 86, was born Oct. 19, 1917 in Warwick Township, Benson County, ND the daughter of Jacob and Frances (Lestina) Papachek. She grew up on the farm north of Warwick with her parents and nine siblings. She received her formal education at Free Peoples School and Warwick High School. On June 8, 1940, she was united in marriage to Alfred Carlson by Rev. Rude at the St. Olaf Lutheran Parsonage in Devils Lake. She and her husband farmed north Warwick. Following retirement from farming, she was employed at the Sioux Manufacturing Company, Fort Totten, ND from 1978-1983. Alfred passed away on September 22, 1985. Irene continued to live on the farm until her death.

She was an active member of the Warwick Community and member of the Warwick Lutheran Church and WELCA having served as an officer and committee chair. Time for family and friends filled Irene's life. There were stories of dances, community activities, church involvement and family gatherings. Music filled her life. She developed at an early age a love for playing the accordion and later formed a dance band that played at house parties. Later in life she entertained her family and friends in her living room with accordion concerts of "olde time tunes." Many days and evenings were filled with singing and dancing to "Irene's music."

Irene, along with her husband, raised a family of four children on the farm that she loved. Along with farming the land by the side of her husband, she milked cows, raised chickens, sold cream and eggs, and grew a big garden to support her family. Times were tough but she overcame the hardships with fortification from love, hope, spiritual faith and her music. She gave love and support equally to each of her children showing no favoritism but making each feel very special to her. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great joy to her and they had a mutual respect for her. They were always able to answer "yes" to her perpetual question "Do you like it here on the farm?" Her love was unconditional and she gave more than she received throughout her life. She had a wonderful sense of humor and all who came in contact with her received a sampling.

Irene was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher and friend, but most of all she was a soldier of life. There will be no answer to the call of Mom or Grandma in the future, but the memories will never die. She continues to live in all of us and will be missed deeply.

Irene is survived by her children, Aldene (Lawton) Miller of Orange, CA, Lynann (Irvin) Rustad of Fargo, ND, Lavonne (Richard) Rustad of Fargo, and Darrell "Duff" (Deborah) Carlson of Warwick; nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Michael) DeFusco, Orange, CA, Craig (Cheryl) Miller, Mission Viejo, CA, Neal (Keri) Miller, Corona, CA; Elizabeth (Thomas) Cox, West Des Moines, Iowa, Mark (Debra) Rustad, Sabin, MN, Mathew Rustad, Fargo, ND; Chelsa (Brian) Swaser, West Fargo, ND, Nathan Rustad, Bellingham, WA and Adam Rustad also of Bellingham; great-grandchildren, Gino DeFusco, Gianna DeFusco, Clayton Miller, Kaylee Miller and Sophia Miller; Megan Cox, Emma Cox, Samuel Cox, Jeremy Feist, Taylor Feist, Ryan Rustad, Sydney Rustad and Hailey Palluck; Zachary Swaser and Isaac Swaser on the way; sister, Phyllis Papachek of Warwick; sisters-in-law, Louella Papachek and Margaret Carlson Quam, both of Devils Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, George, Thomas, Edward, Eugene, Bennie and Raymond Papachek; sisters, Bessie Daniels and Agnes M. Clift.

Memorials may be directed to the Warwick Lutheran Church Building Fund, Warwick, ND 58381 or Mercy Hospice, 1031 7th Street, Devils Lake, ND 58301. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, is in charge of arrangements.