Irene Bernice Paape

Irene Bernice Paape, age 90, formerly of Hayfield, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee. Irene was born on October 7, 1935, in London Township, Minnesota, to Otto and Bernice (Cipra) Ziebell. Irene attended District 51 country school and graduated from Austin High School in 1954. She continued her education at Austin Vo-Tech, where she took bookkeeping classes. Irene worked in the office at JC Penney before dedicating her life to being a homemaker. On May 7, 1960, she was united in marriage to Dean Paape at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Connie and Glenda. Irene was a proud homemaker who found joy in volunteering and serving others. She was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Waltham, where she served on the church council and participated actively in circle. Irene also served as treasurer for 12 years on the Waltham Township Board and was involved with the Mower County Dozen Extension Group.

Survivors include her daughters, Connie Paape of Bloomington, MN and Glenda (Eric) Watry of Shakopee, MN; two grandchildren, Dean and Danielle Watry of Shakopee, MN; sisters, Frances (Keith) Olson of Northwood, IA and Virginia Knight of Mantorville, MN; brothers, Laverne Ziebell of Roseville, MN and David (Patsy) Ziebell of Emmons, MN; sisters-in-law, Lois Ziebell of Albert Lea, MN and Karen Ziebell of Grand Meadow, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Paape in 2011; parents, Otto and Bernice Ziebell; parents-in-law, Edwin and Marie (Anderson) Paape; sisters, RosaLea Churchill and Marie Dempewolf; brothers, Fred Ziebell, George Ziebell, and Lawrence Ziebell; sisters-in-law, Elaine Ziebell and Beverly Ziebell; and brothers-in-law, Burton Churchill, Virgil Dempewolf, and Ronald Knight.

A funeral service for Irene will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Waltham. The visitation will take place from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin, Minnesota, and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Lutheran Cemetery, Waltham. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin.