Obituary of Irene M. Brock

Irene M. Brock, age 91, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 9, 2021. She was born to James M. Sherry and Anna Marinko Sherry on January 17, 1930 in Tabor, Minnesota during a snow storm. She was the sixth child of twelve children growing up on a rural farm. As a young child and through her teens Irene worked in the fields alongside her siblings also learning gardening, to cook and sew. She attended a one room schoolhouse since there weren’t many children in rural communities with one teacher teaching all the grades.

As a young woman, Irene moved to Colorado in 1954 with a friend, making the Denver area her home until her death. She loved the adventures she found in the mountains of Colorado with the church group of Messiah Lutheran Church. Irene sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and served on the church council for many years. She had a strong faith in God. Irene was a special lady who enjoyed being a mom, grammie, aunt and friend. She always had a smile for you and made you feel special. She loved spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading, sewing and cooking.

Irene had a successful career in the banking and financial business as well as having her own bookkeeping business on the side. She was a very hard worker and at times had three jobs to make ends meet. Irene also served as a board member for the city of Thornton. In retirement, she worked at a credit union answering phones while keeping a few of her bookkeeping clients. She volunteered at Children’s Hospital in the nursery rocking babies and helping the nurses.

Irene was married in 1964 to William Brock, she gave birth to her daughter, Allison, in 1965. Irene and Allison’s relationship was very close and loving. Irene always went above and beyond for her daughter because she wanted her to have her a wonderful childhood and experience the awesome wonders of God. She raised her daughter with her love of cooking, flowers, and taught her how to grow a vegetable garden. There were countless drives to the mountains exploring and picnicking after church in the summertime. She would take anyone who came to visit for a ride to the mountains. Although she welcomed every season with excitement, fall was Irene’s favorite season. This past October, she enjoyed several outings pointing out all the colors of the trees with amazement.

In 1995, Irene was blessed with her only grandson, Neil, who she was very proud of. She would volunteer at his daycare and school, bringing him special lunches to enjoy together. During summers she enjoyed taking Neil bowling along with other adventures she thought he would enjoy. The past few years Irene would make her special pumpkin pie for holidays, always making a whole pumpkin pie just for Neil to take home and per his request a pumpkin pie was made for his birthdays. Irene enjoyed when Neil would take her out to dinner for a Grammie/grandson date.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Allison Cade and grandson, Neil Cade; brothers, Ardell Sherry (Judy), David Sherry (Ethel); sisters, Grace Griffin, Darlene Sitko (Bob); brother-in-law, George Habermann; sister-n-law, Bernice Sherry; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Anna and James Sherry; sisters, Martha Kotrba, Ruth Kotrba, May McGraw, Mary Lou Habermann; brothers, James Sherry, Delbert Sherry and Andrew Sherry.

Irene will be greatly missed by many family and friends.

 

The following is a poem Irene wrote for her 90th birthday.

NINETY YEARS YOUNG

The Lord has kept me safe and sound

These NINETY years I’ve been around.

The day I was born was a blustery night

No one around, no one in sight.

The howling wind, the snow swept prairie

How was I to know that it would be so scary.

I was wonderfully, uniquely made from head to toe

Born January 17, 1930 I’d like you to know.

 

As children go, a curious child I would be

Never lacking eagerness, energy or vitality.

Along came September at the age of five

Now my curiosity became very alive.

My siblings and I were daily sent

To the one room rural school house we went.

Oh what bliss so many books galore

Reading to my heart’s content eager for more.

 

At age twenty-four being the adventuress kind

Denver, Colorado obsessed my mind.

The majestic mountains, the valleys below

Green forests with rivers and streams that gently flow.

Newly made friends joined in the many things to do

Everything I did seemed relatively new.

Hiking, sightseeing, vacations and more

Caves, National Parks yet to explore.

 

God blessed me with a Daughter like no other

Full of caring, compassion and love for her mother.

Always ready and eager to provide

Taking each request in stride.

A wonderful Grandson beyond measure

My one and only Grandchild whom I treasure.

 

I’m NINETY now, the years have gone by

Looking back how quickly they did fly.

The body is aging, the mind remains Young

Memories that linger are strategically strung.

Joints that are stiff, back that doesn’t bend

Exercising with yoga hoping to mend.

Physical therapy strengthening muscles that are weak

Age creeping up in each method I seek.

 

God has provided one hour at a time

Living each day so meekly sublime.

The year in days of three hundred sixty five

The blessings appear each day I am alive

Moving through each day of the year

God is in and beside me ever near.

 

By: Irene Brock in 2020

 

This is beautiful and something to ponder…

You can shed tears because they are gone,

or you can smile because they lived.

You can close your eyes praying they will come back,

or you can open your eyes to see all that they left for you.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see them,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember only that they are gone,

or you can cherish their memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind feeling empty,

or you can do what they would want…

 

Smile, open your heart, love… and go on.

 

Lessons Taught by Life - 2022