Ihrig, David George

May 11, 1938 - October 20, 2022

Like many Nebraskans, Dave Ihrig committed his life to making things grow. For him, it was through a dedication to education, his family, and his garden.

The eldest of seven children, Dave was born on the second floor of a drugstore in Gothenberg, NE, to Elmer and Anna Beth Ihrig. He spent his childhood throughout rural Nebraska and Illinois as his father, a preacher, moved their family from parish to parish.

Dave graduated from Dana College in Blair, NE, and later earned a Master of Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha. After teaching at Augustana College and working as a high school psychologist, JFK inspired Dave to join the Peace Corps - a short-lived endeavor as he led a mini-revolt against their training methods. Dave returned to Nebraska, where he met the love of his life, Karen Ann Keating. They married in 1969, and for over 48 years were a force of nature. Together, they endeavored upon adventures in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, but the pull back to Omaha was strong. When they returned in 1971, they came to stay for the rest of their lives.

Dave and Karen raised two sons, Tim Ihrig, MD, and Scott Ihrig, Esq., who grew up to find love, joy, and success. They also founded and operated The Early Learning Place, a progressive daycare center and precursor to Head Start in Nebraska, and later Printmakers, companies that created jobs and friendships in Omaha over 30 years. They also began and led Nebraska Let's Play To Grow, a program of the Kennedy Foundation for families of children with disabilities.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Elmer George J. Ihrig and Anna Elizabeth (née Viox) Ihrig; brother, James Ihrig, and wife Karen Ann (née Keating) Ihrig. He is survived by his sons, Scott Ihrig, Esq. (Shannon Morrison), and Timothy Ihrig, MD (Christine Anderson-Ihrig); grandchildren, Oliver, Mathilda, and Mirabelle Ihrig; siblings: Richard (Colleen Cooper) Ihrig, Phillip Ihrig, Stephan (Lam) Ihrig, Elizabeth Ihrig, and John (Sid) Ihrig; sister-in-law, Clara Ihrig; and many loving relatives and friends.

Dave was a gardener. A woodworker. A photographer. An entrepreneur. An educator. A husband. A father. A grandfather. And a friend to all.

The family will honor him with an afternoon memorial in the home garden he tended for almost fifty years. Contact his sons for details. Instead of sending flowers, plant some in your garden in memory of Dave - dahlias were one of his favorites.

~~~ obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #245297616