October 4, 1928 – February 11, 2024
Irvene was born on October 4th, 1928 in Cedar Creek NE to Irven and Ethel Meisinger.
She grew up on the family farm and often spoke about her experiences with life on the farm. She gained a love for animals and outdoors that became part of her core. As she moved into her 90’s she attributed her longevity and good health to being a “farm girl”.
She met Boyd Group in High School and they quickly found love. They were married in Kansas on October 22, 1946. They began their long life together settling in Lincoln NE. There they had 2 sons Larry (Penuel) Group and Michael (Becky) Group. Irvene graduated from Southeast Community College in 1984 and worked for many years with Lincoln Public Schools as a Cafeteria Manager. Her ability to express love through food was something special that everyone around her knew well.
As a family, many summers were spent at their cabin outside Ashland enjoying their lake community. When Boyd passed in 1996, she stayed active finding peace with her friends at their Wednesday afternoon pie and coffee gatherings. This continued throughout her life. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, gardening, but most of all family. She adored having family around and you could never stop by without being offered coffee or tea. She was lucky to see her family grow from having 2 sons to 4 granddaughters, Lacey (Tony), Holly (Dan), Jennifer and Alison (Scott); 5 great-grandsons, Drake (Haley), Tyson, Dalton, Keithen and Brycen; 5 great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Chance, Twila, Sage and Ruby; and 1 great-great-granddaughter Maeve. She stayed busy attending school functions with grandchildren, get-togethers, and holidays where she would make more food than could be eaten, and traveling. She went on many vacations and even made it to Europe.
She spent the last years with her loyal dog Misty who was always by her side or on her lap. Her love of animals and farm girl mentality never faltered.
Irvene passed at home on February 11th, 2024. She was 95 years, 3 months, and 11 days old.
She was preceded in death by her Husband Boyd, her parents Ethel and Irven, brother Tom, sister-in-law Dorthy, and Great-Grandson Devin.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, February 19, 2024 at Rudge Chapel in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln. Visitation 1 hour prior. Memorials to the family for future designations.
I am making plan to be there. She was special to me!
My thoughts and prayers are with all of your family. She was so cheerful and loved having family gatherings. Wish I could be there and see the whole family. Over the years I got to know so many of the family and we shared grand, great grand and great great grandchildren, She was a very special lady.
Thank you Kay. You are very special to us!
Irvine was a very special lady and I am so I had a chance to see her several times. We shared grand children, great grandchildren and a very special great great grandbaby. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the family and am so sorry I won’t be able to come to the celebration of her life. I will be thinking of all of you.
SHE HAD A LAUGH THAT YOU COULD HEAR A MILE AWAY.WE WORKED AT LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOL.
My mom Beverly Westphal worked with Irvene many years ago and I know my mom considered her a dear friend until she passed in 2011. I was sad to hear of Irvene’s passing.