Irene Offerdahl

Offerdahl, Irene E.

WAUKESHA - Irene E. Offerdahl, age 85, died Sunday, July 19, 2015, at Linden Grove in Waukesha. She was born June 6, 1930, in Sheboygan WI, the middle child of the late Edgar and Rose (Altenbach) Harff. She graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in art education and was an art teacher at Stoughton city schools for several years before teaching art at Randall Elementary School in Madison. On June 28, 1958, she married the former Arnold N. Offerdahl from Stoughton. Irene and Arnold started their family in Madison, then moved to Wisconsin Rapids, and then to Fort Atkinson where their children graduated from high school. In the late 70s, Irene began a new career teaching furniture refinishing classes to her 'beloved' Madison Area Technical College (MATC) students in Fort Atkinson and in the Madison area, before retiring in 1995. From 1982 to 2006 she lived in Sun Prairie, WI, before finally moving to Linden Grove, Waukesha. Her life was full of encouragement and joy, love of fun, and a positive attitude that grew with each year.

Irene is survived by her five children, Mary (Jim Baldino), Vienna, VA., Ruth (Aidan Flatley) of Toronto, Susan (Robert Hougard), Delafield, Wis., Sarah (Steven Petri) of Lighthouse Point, Fla., and John (Lynn) Offerdahl of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; by 13 grandchildren; and by her brother, Jerry (Nancy) Harff. She was preceded in death by her brother Raymond (Jeanne) Harff.

There will be no visitation. The family is honoring Irene's wishes to participate in the University of Wisconsin's Body Donation Program for students entering the health professions, and at some point in the future she will be laid to rest at East Side Cemetery, Stoughton, next to her husband.

On Sunday, September 6th, a Friends & Family Memorial Brat Fry will be held in her memory. All friends & family interested in attending are encouraged to submit names to IreneOfferdahl@gmail.com so they can be added to the invite list.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to those involved with her care at Linden Grove. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent payable to the Linden Grove Foundation's "Grow the Gardens" campaign ( http://lindengrove.org/why-choose-us/lindengrove-foundation/grow-the-gardens/ ) or to the charity of one's choice.

Cress Funeral Home
PO Box 231
206 W. Prospect Ave.
Stoughton, WI 53589