Irene Christina Zimmerle, 82, of Loveland, CO died March 21, 2007, battling scleroderma and peripheral arterial disease.

She said Colorado is a beautiful state, but she would always be a North Dakota country girl at heart.


Irene Christina Horst was born on February 7, 1925 on a farm near Elgin, ND to Leopold and Maria (Kranich) Horst. Irene attended country school, Elgin High School and Dickinson State Teachers College.


Her mother pointed out a nice young man at threshing and they dated through her college and his service in WWII. She married John August Zimmerle on June 23, 1946. They were married for 53 years.


Irene taught grades K-4 over her career, first at country school in Antelope School District and then Heil, New Leipzig, and Elgin. She loved all the wonderful children who touched her life; especially when they glowed with the pride of learning.


An accomplished painter, Irene enjoyed the fine art of oil and water painting and was honored to have her work displayed in the ND Governor's mansion. Her poems and stories were published in various papers and magazines.


Community service included working on the Germans from Russia scrapbook, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School at Zion Lutheran Church and contributing to the Elgin Diamond Jubilee Book


Irene moved to Loveland, CO in January, 2004, to be near family and for the benefits a milder climate brought her scleroderma. She taught granddaughters about art, made new friends in a wonderful apartment community and loved her weekly Tripoli matches.


Irene is survived by a sister, a brother, 4 children, 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandsons. Lorraine Rausher lives in Colorado Springs, CO and Reiny Horst lives in Monmouth, OR. Audrey & Keith Quale of Savage, MT are parents of Bryce (Jacki) Quale and Kaci (Randall) Hutzenbiler and grandparents to all 4 little boys. Dan & Denise Zimmerle of Ft. Collins, CO have 2 daughters, Kirsten and Rebecca. Carol Williams of Omaha, NE, has 2 sons, Aaron and Robert. Thomas of Bismarck, ND has 1 son, Derek.


She was preceded in death by her husband, John, 2 brothers and her parents.


Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. March 27 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elgin, with Burial to follow at the Zion Cemetery in Elgin. Visitations will be from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 26 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday morning. A memorial service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loveland, CO will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 2.


In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran World Relief, in care of Zion Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran Church.