Irene Siemers

Irene Marie Siemers, 96, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, April 16, 2021, because of a stroke at the Lutheran Home, where she had been living since 2016.

The second of six children, Irene was born Dec. 10, 1924, near Tilsit to Leo Henry and Frieda Emma Fluegge Siebert. She and Earl Martin Siemers were united in marriage on Nov. 30, 1947, by the Rev. Strickert at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. They had been married 70 years when Earl passed away Dec. 7, 2017.

Irene was baptized Jan. 18, 1925, by the Rev. E.C. Weis and confirmed April 10, 1938, by the Rev. H.J. Strickert at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. She received her elementary education at Tilsit Public School and Immanuel Lutheran School. She was a 1942 graduate of Jackson High School.

Early in her life, Irene worked in her parents' general merchandise store and trucking company in Tilsit. After graduation, she worked in the Cape County Sheriff's Department. She was the first female deputy sheriff in Cape Girardeau County and the second female deputy sheriff in the State of Missouri.

In July 1950, she left law enforcement and joined her husband in the operation of their 155-acre dairy farm. She was truly a farmer's wife, working alongside Earl on every aspect of the dairy farm. Together, they retired in 1988.

As a devout follower of her Lord, Jesus Christ, she was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. She served in various offices in the Ladies Senior Aid, Lutheran Women's Missionary League and Lutheran Home Auxiliary. Irene loved the Lord, her church, and enjoyed serving her church family.

Other affiliations include Saint Francis Medical Center Auxiliary and the Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, Farm Bureau Ladies Committee, Campster Club, SEMO District Fair Association and the foundations of Saint Francis Medical Center, Southeast Health, Trinity Lutheran School and Saxony High School.

Irene was a meticulous bookkeeper and a detailed journalist. She enjoyed cooking for a crowd, quilting, reading, playing cards and writing.

Loving survivors include three siblings, Vera (the late Robert) Voges of Jackson, Harlan (Dorothy) Siebert of Cape Girardeau and Vernon (Pat) Siebert of Sikeston, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Allene (the late Leon) Ainsworth and Meta (the late Arthur) Siemers of Cape Girardeau; many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Siemers; her parents, Leo and Frieda Siebert; two brothers, Freeman (Ellouise) Siebert and Earl (Gladys) Siebert; four brothers-in-law, Robert Voges, Harry (Joan) Siemers, Arthur Siemers and Leon Ainsworth; and an infant sister, Helen Siemers.

The family gives special thanks to the Lutheran Home for all the excellent care, support and friendship Irene received while in its care.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to service time Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Douglas Breite will officiate the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Masks are encouraged and appreciated.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church or the donor's choice of church or charity.

To share an online condolence with the family, visit www.mccombsfuneralhome.com, navigate to Irene's personal obituary page, and click on the tribute wall tab.