Irene J. Rethman, 84, of Holton, passed away on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Medicalodges Jackson County in Holton.

She was born on May 8, 1939 at Odebolt, Iowa, the daughter of John and Helen Neu Taphorn. She graduated from nursing school in Omaha, Nebraska.

Irene was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton and the Altar Society at the church.

She was a nurse at Merry Manor Nursing Home, and later was a counselor at St. Francis Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in Topeka.

She married Walter “Pete” Rethman on October 8, 1966 in Omaha. He preceded her in death on October 5, 2018.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Ray, Jim, Bob, Walter and Werner, and sisters, Rieta, Marion, Clara and Joan.

Survivors include two sons, Jason Rethman, Tempe, AZ and Jarred Rethman (Amy), Netawaka, two sisters, Sister Janet Taphorn, OSF, Sioux City, IA and Lois Galles, Kingsley, IA, and two grandchildren, Logan Touslee (Tanner) and Kolby Rethman (Kinley).

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 29th at St. Dominic Catholic Church. Burial will be 2:00 p.m. that afternoon in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery at Seneca. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by visitation until 8:00 p.m. at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials are suggested to the Irene Rethman Memorial Fund, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436. On-line condolences may be made atchapeloaksfuneralhome.com.