Inez Mary Elizabeth Duwe Kirkeberg, 87, of Decorah, Iowa, formerly of Monona, Iowa died Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Wellington Place in Decorah Iowa. Inez was born on November 4, 1933 to Roy and Leola (Meyer) Duwe in rural Postville, Iowa. She was baptized on December 17, 1933 at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Postville, Iowa and was confirmed on March 30, 1947. She graduated from Postville High School, Postville, Iowa in the class of 1951. After graduation, with some of her life-long friends, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she worked at Killian’s department store.
It seems Inez wasn’t long for the city life, as she married Carlyle “Ky” Ronald Kirkeberg on April 6, 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, Iowa and moved back to NE Iowa. Three children were born to this union. Throughout the years, Ky and Inez farmed in rural Elgin and owned a men’s clothing store in Monona, Iowa for several years. Inez was passionate about reading. This passion served her well as she was also the Monona librarian for thirty years. She enjoyed traveling with Ky on bus trips, watching their children’s and grandchildren’s ball games, playing bingo, shopping and coming up with ideas on how to remodel their home on West Center Street. Ky and Inez were members of a couple of card clubs during their marriage, with a special mention to being life-long members of the “Brothers and Sisters Couples” card club. If you ever drove down West Center Street in the summer, you would probably see Ky and Inez sitting on their front porch enjoying the evening weather. They enjoyed visiting with anyone who stopped.
Inez is survived by her three children, Rick (Jeanie) Kirkeberg of Calmar, Iowa, Renea (Robert) Huinker of Lawler, Iowa and Scott (Linda) Kirkeberg of Decorah, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Stacy (Jeremy) Johnson, Kelly (Jason) Thelen, Remy Keehner, Kara (Wes) Dietrich, Robin (Ryan) Caddell, Lindsey (Juan) Allende, Jill (Alex) Ivan, Emily (Jared) Falck and Michael Kirkeberg; two step-grandchildren, Nicole (Levi) Gulick and Blake (Becky) Chipera; seventeen great-grandchildren, Kendall and Annika Johnson, Nolan and Iris Thelen, Coye, Carter and Chase Dietrich, Evan and Elise Caddell, Isaac and Luis Allende, Peter and Maren Ivan, Roman, Jax, Londyn and Slade Falck; three step-great-grandchildren, Leyton, Lennon and Theo Gulick; three nieces Barb Peterson, Sandy Koenig and Cindy Schultz; a nephew Joe Duwe and sister-in-law, Dorothy Suckow .
Inez was preceded in death by her husband, Ky; her parents, Roy and Leola Duwe; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Ruth Kirkeberg; her brother LeRoy Duwe and grandson-in-law Keary Keehner.
Inez’s family would like to extend a special thank you to all the caretakers, nurses and medical professionals for their wonderful care and many acts of kindness shown to our mother during her days at Wellington Place.
A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.