Irene Ameila Kaplan, 90, formerly of Blooming Prairie, died Saturday, July 2, 2011 at McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake, MN. Previous to moving to McKenna Crossing in June 2010, she was a resident of Traditions I in Owatonna.

 Irene was born in Summit Township on March 31, 1921, the youngest daughter of Frank and Amelia (Styndl) Maixner. She graduated from River Point School and attended Owatonna High School. Following school she worked at several jobs including Caspers Grocery Store and Huber Glove Company.

On October 4, 1949, Irene was united in marriage to Milton A. Kaplan at Associated Church in Owatonna. The couple farmed northeast of Owatonna prior to moving to their farm northwest of Blooming Prairie in 1956. Irene and Milt retired from farming in 1994 and the couple later moved to Blooming Prairie in 2000.

As a homemaker, Irene always enjoyed baking, cooking and canning. She will fondly be remembered for her bread baking, endless jars of canned pickles, cherries and other fruits/vegetables that lined the shelves in the basement of the farm house. She served many wonderful meals in the dining room or at the kitchen table that were shared by family and friends. Even though Irene loved to cook, it was common to see her and Milt out for coffee in the afternoon after concluding one of their afternoon drives. Irene was a member of the Bixby Westside Extension club and was recently honored for being a 75 year member of the WFLA.

Irene is survived by her only daughter, Nancy (and Karl) Luiken of Savage; nephew Ken (and Liz) Stark of Vinton, IA; nieces Joan Stark of Thousand Oaks, CA; Kathy (and Dan) Dunn of Great Falls, MT; and Trudy (wife of Roger) Stark of Egg Harbor, WI. She is also survived by a brother-in-law and wife Lloyd and Jackie Kaplan of Ellendale.

She was preceded in death by her husband Milton on April 24, 2010; father Frank Maixner in 1956; mother Ameila in 1971; 10-year old brother George in 1918; brothers Emil in 1979 and Frank in 1996; and sister Mildred in 2007. She was also preceded in death by her nephews Gary Maixner in 1956; Dennis Maixner in 2004 and Roger Stark in 1993.

Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 5, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m. and at United Methodist Church on Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church with Pastor Loren Olson officiating. Interment will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Owatonna. Memorials are preferred to the Owatonna United Methodist Church or Homestead Hospice House.