IRENE M. BLOOMQUIST, 98, of Cherokee, Iowa and former longtime Quimby, Iowa resident passed away, Thursday evening, October 16, 2014 in the Countryside Estates.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 21st, at 10 a.m. at the Quimby United Methodist Church. Dr. L. Gregory Bloomquist will officiate. Burial will be in the Quimby Cemetery. There will be a family prayer service at 9:45 a.m. at the church on Tuesday. Visitation will be on Monday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Irene was born on May 3, 1916 in Polk County, Wisconsin to John & Hannah (Strom) Lindahl. She attended country school in Wisconsin through the 8th grade. She received her GED in May of 1967 and then graduated from LPN school in 1969.She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and was a member of the Quimby United Methodist Church.

She was married to Laurence Bloomquist of Boxholm, Iowa on November 7, 1935 at the Harcourt Lutheran Church. They lived in Boxhom and Wisconsin before moving to Quimby in 1943. She resided there until moving to The Gardens in Cherokee in September of 2011. She was homemaker, sold Avon Products, worked at the hospital in central supply and was an LPN in the nursing homes. She held various offices in the church, U.M.W., active in Entrenou, Federated Women's Club, and Garden Club.

Her biggest joy was her flower garden and African Violets. She had a large vegetable garden also and shared both with her family and friends.. She also liked to read, especially the newspaper and was always ready to discuss any and all topics.

She and Laurence loved to travel, going to different places in the United States and taking two trips to Spain and Sweden to visit relatives. After Laurence died, she started having a family reunion of relatives from both sides of the family every 3 years until the last one in 2010. She also continued to travel to Ottawa, Canada to be with family, at first driving with her dog as companion, later by plane. Her immense joy was flying to Newfoundland, a gift for her 90th birthday.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Laurence on September 19, 1990, an infant daughter in 1956, 2 sisters and brothers-in-law: Alma (Arvid) Bloomquist and Elaine (Elmer) Olson; a brother and sister-in-law Vernon (Evelyn) Lindahl.

She is survived by her daughter Margaret Nelson of Cherokee, Iowa; a son-in-law Rodney Nelson of Quimby, Iowa; son L. Gregory (Rachel) Bloomquist of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; grandchildren: Lisa Nelson, Laurel Nelson (Steve Bragg) of Renton, Washington, Mark Nelson (Kim Vannatta) of Kingsley, Iowa, Julia (Peter) Miles of St. John's Newfoundland, Kristin Bloomquist of Las Vegas, Nevada, Laura (Gary) Long of St. John's, Newfoundland, Jonathon (Jennifer) of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada; 2 great grandsons: Edwin and George Miles; also several nieces and nephews