Irene Rosella Marie (Ackerman) Deschner was born on July 20, 1922 in Rexford, Kansas to Henry and Henrietta (Rall) Ackerman, the second of five children and only daughter. She died at Hilltop Lodge, Beloit, KS on October 6, 2018 at the age of 96.
She moved with her family to Hoxie, Kansas when she was one year old. There she was baptized and confirmed in her faith at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and graduated from Sheridan County High School in 1940. Irene subsequently completed studies at Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technique in St. Louis, Missouri in June, 1941 for certification as a Laboratory and X-Ray Technician. After completing her training, she moved to Beloit, Kansas where she was employed as a Laboratory/X-Ray Technician at the Beloit Community Hospital. She later worked for many years in the office of Drs. Collins, Nienstedt, and Dobratz.
Irene met her future husband, Ernest Deschner, through mutual friends at Zion Lutheran Church. They were married on October 15, 1944 and lived on the family farm south of Beloit, where Ernest was born and where the couple lived for 50 years. It was here that they raised their family of three children; a son, Dennis, and daughters Jean and Marilyn.
Irene and Ernest were life-long partners in their farming business. They sold their farm home and moved to Beloit in 1993. Irene was active in her community and a woman of strong Christian faith. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for 75 years and filled many roles during that time. She was a Sunday School teacher, member of the altar guild and women of the ELCA. She was also involved for many years in the Bloomfield EHU and Minerva Club and was a 4-H Club leader in activities with her children. Irene was a master gardener, seamstress, and quilter. She never sat down without some type of craft in front of her. She loved playing bridge and cards of any kind, china painting, birding and traveling with Ernest throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Preceding Irene in death were her parents Henry and Henrietta Ackerman, husband Ernest, grandson Allen Deschner, and brothers Gilbert Ackerman and wife Norma, Carl Ackerman and wife Janese, and Richard Ackerman. Irene is survived by her three children and their spouses: Dennis and Carola Deschner, Phillipsburg, KS; Jean and Walter Wesselowski, Hays, KS; and Dr. Marilyn and John Buchheister, Kitty Hawk, NC. Irene leaves five grandchildren: Patricia Callegari and husband, Andy, Olathe, KS; Lara Adams, Loganville, GA; Dr. Sonya Wesselowski and husband Dr. Luis Braz-Ruivo, College Station, TX; Bryan Buchheister, Washington, DC, and Elizabeth Buchheister, Annapolis, MD. She is also survived by three great grandchildren Melina and Holly Callegari and Vincent Braz-Ruivo, her brother, Robert Ackerman and wife Alice, Park, KS, sister-in-law Gloria Ackerman, Beloit, KS and thirteen nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 2 PM Saturday, October 13 at the Zion Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Friday, October 12 from 1-8 PM & family present from 7-8 PM at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church or Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation.