IRENE A. RETKA, 96

Irene A. Retka, 96, of Blair, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Interment will be in the Arlington Cemetery.

Irene Adela Rasmussen Retka was born March 13, 1909, at Fremont to William and Clara (Brunkow) Stork. She spent most of her childhood in Minnesota where her father worked for the railroad. She later came back to the Fremont area, where she worked as a housekeeper and cook for many prominent families.

In February 1930, she married Morgan Rasmussen.

They lived in the Spiker vicinity for 45 years. She was a dedicated wife and mother, and her life was filled with raising five children and cooking for the hired help. She was always ready to open her home to relatives and friends. Many came to her home for refuge during the Depression years.

In 1974, Morgan and Irene built a new home in Arlington where they planned to enjoy retirement. In February 1975, just six weeks after moving into their home, Mr. Rasmussen suddenly died.

In December 1978, she married Bernard Retka, a well-known farmer from Minnesota. The couple was able to do some traveling, which they both enjoyed. Mr. Retka died in April 1997.

Mrs. Retka enjoyed crocheting and quilting. She made many quilts for her family and worked at the church, quilting for missions. As she got older and was unable to work at the church, the ladies would bring her used garments to prepare for quilting. Her family remembers that she never sat down, and was always busy with her hands. She also was an avid reader.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, DeLores and Amond Ohms of Bennington; sons and daughters-in-law, David and Eunice Rasmussen and Roland Rasmussen, all of Blair; Daniel and Linda Rasmussen of Oakland, and Steven and Gene Rasmussen, of Herman; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Harold “Bill” and Helen Stork of Ventura, Calif.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert and Fred Stork; a sister, Grace Wise; and daughter-in-law, Lucile Rasmussen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church or the Crowell Home Chapel Fund.

Campbell-Aman Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

# 2 - - Omaha World-Herald, August 10, 2005

RETKA - - Irene (Rasmussen) age 96 of Blair. Survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, David and Eunice Rasmussen of Blair; Roland Rasmussen of Blair; Daniel and Linda Rasmussen of Oakland, NE; Steven and Gene Rasmussen of Herman, NE; daughter and son-in-law, DeLores and Amond Ohms of Bennington, NE; brother and sister-in-law, Harold (Bill) and Helen Stork, Ventura, CA; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren.

SERVICES 1 pm Friday at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Burial in Arlington Cemetery. VISITATION 10 am Thursday with family receiving friends from 6 – 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials to First Lutheran Church or Crowell Home Chapel Fund.

CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME, Blair, NE 402-426-2191