Genie and I attended the Service of Memory celebration for Irene Goskeson held at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.
Irene was a prime example of the old Norwegian adage, "God threw away the pattern" used to make Irene.
Irene was a multiple-ability great lady. She brought organization out of chaos when she took over a family with the youngest only six and the father trying to handle four young children after the tragic accidental death of the wife/mother. Daughter Karla, in her words of remembrance of Irene, used the word "chaos" to describe the situation prior to Irene.
Irene met Orville when she was a registered nurse working at a Red Cross blood drive. Time went by and on Jan. 18, 1974 they were married with the youngest child, Kris, being about 10 years old.
Irene, Orville and the four children became residents of Albert Lea where Irene became a licensed day care provider, taught piano lessons, and was the organist/pianist at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church for 41 of her 44 years of marriage to Orville. Irene was a home health nurse, active in senior resources and Semcac while distributing many a kind word in addition to the meal.
Genie and I moved to Albert Lea in 1974 and joined Central Freeborn Lutheran Church shortly thereafter where we met Irene and Orville. Kris was in our daughter's Sunday school class and graduated from Albert Lea High School the same year.
As time went by, we got to know more about the "Bluegrass Family Band" and their playing as a couple at various area gigs. Sometimes they were referred to as "Orville and Irene" and other times as "Irene and Orville" in the publicity of a gig. To us it made no difference as we knew who they were and the fact that they were very good.
Genie joined the choir at Central Lutheran Church and I joined the choir later. Irene was the organist and Orville was in the choir.
Later Irene, Orville and I were part of the Central choir that joined East Freeborn Choir for special music occasions. Thus I got great playing ability but also her great also voice.
A fond memory is when I saw them in their car, windows down, on a warm summer night in the parking lot of the Kahler Motel. I thought they were having car trouble. No, they were having a sandwich in between gigs.
Many of you readers have seen them perform. It was really neat to see the amazement on the face of a youngster when Irene played the musical saw.
My fondest memory is when Irene and Orville would provide the music at the outdoor July 4 service at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, Irene behind the big bass and Orville playing the guitar as they sang. Wow.
Irene, thanks for the memories.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.