Irene J. Birdsell

KEWANEE - Irene J. Birdsell, 81, of Kewanee, died at 7:05 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the Hillcrest Home in rural Geneseo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 2 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Rev. Dan Craig will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Hillcrest Home or to Hospice Compassus.

She was born April 30, 1937 in Burns Township, IL, the daughter of Leonard and Luvina Golden. She married Gerald Girkin in 1957 and he preceded her in death in 1968. She later married Chuck Birdsell on September 26, 1982 in Kewanee and he preceded her in death on November 7, 2016. She is survived by her children, Gayle (Lou) Padilla of Wildwood, MO, Brian (Vicki) Girkin of Talala, OK and DeeDee (Paul) Sherbeyn of Toulon, two step-sons, Robert and Lee Birdsell grandchildren; Danae (Dan) Wollberg, Dionne (Thomas) Padilla-Huddleston, Chad Berlin, Taylor Bent, Chelsea (Jake) Streitmatter, Forrest and Dustin Sherbyn, Roger (Selvia) Littlefield, Jason (Hope) Littlefield and Mark (Kelly) Littlefield, a brother, Gail (Carol) Golden of Marion, IA and her sister, Marilyn Hulslander of Port Townsend, WA. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Dean Golden.

Irene obtained her Associates degree form Black Hawk East. She had worked as a bookkeeper for Golden Brothers Trucking and Union Federal Savings & Loan. She enjoyed birdwatching, camping, fishing and quilting and she especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

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