Asleep in christ: Irene Six

Irene Six, 91, died on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at her home in Rockford, Illinois. She was born in the Ukraine on May 1, 1929. She married Herbert Six while residing in Austria, and they had three children while living there. Irene and her family immigrated to the United States from Austria in October of 1961. One of Irene’s proudest moments was becoming a U.S. Citizen. Irene was a proud and loving parent, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She retired from Warner Lambert after more than 30 years as a machinist. Irene worked hard to raise and support her family and enjoyed her retirement to the fullest. She travelled to Australia, Sweden, Germany, Greece, and throughout much of the United States. She was an avid bowler, golfer, and could not wait for spring to arrive to plant her flower garden. When Irene turned 75, she celebrated by going sky diving. She had an adventurous spirit as she also went parasailing in Hawaii, white water rafting in Alaska, and enjoyed a ride in a hot air balloon. Irene loved watching football: she enjoyed watching the Chicago Bears win and the Green Bay Packers lose. Irene valued her family most of all and loved family gatherings including Sunday morning breakfast get togethers after church service. When she was a young girl the Communists took away her father to a gulag and he was never heard from again and during that time the Communists were starving the people in the Ukraine. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Herbert, mother Jakobina Lange, and three sisters and two brothers. She is survived by her daughter Nelly (John) Reh, Sons Egon (Cindy), Herbert Jr. (Lou Back) Six. She has four grandsons, Roger, Erich, Nathan, and Jason, and three great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Raschell, Alyse and a step granddaughter, Traci. A Funeral Service will be Tuesday February 23rd, 2021, time 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4881 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford, IL. Rev. Frank Ciprys to officiate. The family wishes to thank Heartland Hospice and a special thank you to Nurse Amy and Kim the CAN. Sundberg Funeral Home is caring for Irene and the family at this time.