Irene Sylvia Giesbrecht

On Tuesday, October 11th, 2011, a woman of intelligence, beauty and grace went home to her Lord and Savior’s arms. Irene was born April 6th, 1930 in Peking China to missionaries, August and Martha Ewert, the oldest of five children. Irene returned to the United States permanently in 1942. While attending Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska she met her husband Alvin Giesbrecht and they were married in 1952. Over the next eight years Irene gave birth to her four children, Darrel, Hugh, Rae, and Murray. In 1966 Irene returned to college to begin work on her master’s degree.

In 1971, Al and Irene moved to Salem Oregon where Irene finished her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Oregon and began work as Librarian at Waldo Middle School. She retired from the school after 19 years. Always active, she spent the next years on missions to Ecuador, the Ukraine, and working with the Gideons Auxiliary. During this time she also travelled to many places including Europe and returning to her birth place in China.

Irene passed quietly at home after an extended illness. She is survived by her husband, three brothers, one sister, four children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at Monday, October 17, 10:30 AM at Emmanuel Bible Church, 8512 Sunnyview Rd NE, Salem. Arrangements by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home. Online tributes at www.HED-FH.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gideons.