Irene R. Seelmeyer

Irene Seelmeyer died at her home in Aurora, Colo., as the sun rose on July 1, 2025. She was 97.

Irene was born in a German farming community near Boyden, Iowa, on Jan. 16, 1928 to Robert and Marie (Heitritter) Jantzen. She attended a country parochial school through eighth grade and graduated from Sheldon (Iowa) High School in 1945.

She left Sheldon at age 17 to work at the Wartburg Press in Columbus, Ohio, and later held secretarial positions in Omaha and Sidney, Neb.

While working at Sioux Ordnance Depot in Sidney, Irene met and married George Seelmeyer in 1950. They were married 54 years until his death in 2004. They moved with their family in 1965 to Aurora, Colo., where Irene lived nearly 60 years.

Active from her youngest years in the Lutheran Church, Irene sang in church choirs, taught Sunday School, served on church councils, and volunteered in innumerable roles, great and small. Her service to the church was motivated by a powerful faith buttressed by daily meditation on scripture.

Irene was skilled needleworker whose works are treasured by family and friends.

Irene is survived by three children: John (Barbara Marquand) Seelmeyer of Reno, Nev.; Janet (Janis) Krievins of Olathe, Kan.; and Glenn (Marie) Seelmeyer of Aurora. Irene also took delighted interest in the lives of her six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 10th, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 111 E Del Mar Circle in Aurora, Co 80011. Private family graveside services will follow.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Lutheran World Relief or St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.