Irene Deloye Luxon

Irene Deloye Luxon of Waterloo, IA, age 97, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at Friendship Village – The Landing.

Irene was born on January 28, 1922, the daughter of Lizzie Luze Dehrkoop and Henry Dehrkoop at their family farm outside Dysart, IA. After graduation from high school in 1939, Irene earned a teaching certificate from Iowa Teachers College. Beginning in 1941, she taught elementary school in several Iowa communities.

On August 8, 1948, she married George “Arlie” Luxon of Fort Dodge, IA. He died August 4, 2013. The couple moved to Waterloo in 1959, where Irene taught kindergarten and first grade at several schools in the Waterloo school district and retired in 1984. While teaching and raising her family, she attended night classes at the University of Northern Iowa and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1970.

After retirement, Irene and Arlie enjoyed traveling the United States and Europe, bowling, and spending time with their grandsons.

Irene was a wealth of knowledge on many subjects and a bright ray of sunshine to everyone around her. She was a longtime and active member of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Waterloo, serving on church council and was involved with Ruth Circle.

Irene is survived by her sons, Bruce A. Luxon and wife Alesha, and Gary D. Luxon and wife Sue, and her grandsons, Alex and Adam. She is also survived by seven nieces and nephews, and step grandsons, Evan and Kain.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Arlie, and her siblings, Iola Dehrkoop, Marvin Dehrkoop, and Ida Mae Dehrkoop Williams.