Irene (Schrock) Beckler was born at home near Yoder, Kansas, on October 5, 1933, to R.J. and Edna (Troyer) Schrock. Irene was the oldest of 6 children. She grew up on the farm and learned to work hard from her parents. It was her job to care for her younger siblings while her parents were in the barn milking cows. She learned to sew, garden, cook, clean, butcher chickens and can and freeze produce. Her family was a part of the Amish church until she was seven when her parents joined Yoder Mennonite Church where she was actively involved, teaching Sunday school, Bible School, participating in the women's sewing circle and was president of Homemakers. She was on the committee that created the first Yoder Church cookbook. Irene, along with her parents and siblings, often spoke in Pennsylvania Dutch when they didn't want her children to know what they were talking about. Irene attended Daisy Grade School and Haven High School for two years. She then went to work in Hutchinson as a nanny, caring for a young boy.

Irene caught the attention of a young man when she took a trip to Nebraska with a friend. He saw her again when he visited Kansas, but it took several more trips before he got the courage to ask her for a date. On her 19th birthday, October 5, 1952, she married Maurice Beckler at Yoder Mennonite Church. They began their married life in Nebraska but after several years moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to help with the church there. In 1958, they moved to rural Hutchinson, Kansas, then later to a small farm 1 mile east of Yoder where they raised their four children.

Saturdays were a big day in the Beckler household. The house had to be cleaned from top to bottom and the car washed. Caramel frosted cinnamon rolls, some with raisins, some without, were made for Sunday morning's breakfast and food prepped for Sunday noon. Sunday morning the chicken and rice went into the oven on a timer, to be ready when the family got home from church. True to the recipe's name, it truly was; Chicken Every Sunday. Irene also made the best chocolate chip cookies and potato salad which she often took to family gatherings. She made amazing angel food cakes for her children's birthdays.

Irene was an accomplished seamstress. She made all of her daughters' dresses even into high school. She often made all four of them matching outfits; dresses for the girls and a shirt for her son. As the children grew older she took jobs outside of the home. She cared for several elderly people, worked in the hospital cafeteria and a number of years for Snack Haven and the Yoder Cafe.

In 1971, Irene felt the call to be a foster mom. She and Maurice received three foster children into their home to nurture and love. Many years later they were able to reconnect with two of them.

In 1987, Irene and Maurice sold their small farm and many household possessions and moved to Glendale, Arizona. Irene became a marketing coordinator for Glencroft Retirement Community. She spent many very hot days showing people the apartments that were available. Those were some of the best years of their lives. They were able to do some traveling and enjoyed short trips to interesting places around Arizona. She made cloth wallets and made "new" greeting cards out of old cards she had received, to bless others. She blessed each of her grandchildren with a set of embroidered dish towels. They also enjoyed having immediate and extended family members living in the Phoenix area. In 2002, their children gifted them a trip to Alaska for their 50th wedding anniversary. Then at their celebration in December they were surprised by their foster daughter and her family. She was finally found after almost 30 years. In 2008, they moved back to Kansas to be closer to two of their daughters who helped them in their latter years.

Irene found great joy in meeting friends from church for breakfast or Sunday evenings for ice cream treats. She was involved in a Sunday School class, Bible studies and ladies sewing which were all a blessing to her. She found daily encouragement and inspiration in the devotional, Our Daily Bread, and prayed faithfully for her family and friends. She also experienced great joy interacting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren as they grew and matured. She enjoyed flowers, table games and in her latter years Word Search books kept her occupied.

Irene, 89, took her final labored breath and was promoted to glory on December 30, 2022, at Mennonite Friendship Communities. She is no longer in pain, short of breath or tired, but is enjoying all the benefits of heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Irene is survived by her children and spouses; Regena and Dan Garber - Hutchinson, Vivian and Don Kropf - Albany, OR, LaDonna Bontrager, Hutchinson, and Arvin and Kathy Beckler - Cave Creek, AZ; eight grandchildren and spouses, Jason Garber and Karena Martin - Glen, NH, Brent and Ashley Garber - Hutchinson, Brittany Kropf - Indianapolis, IN, Brianna and Rob Radford - Albany, OR, Tonya and Dale Ferguson - Hutchinson, Chad and Lauren Bontrager - Ocala, FL, Courtney and Benjamin Campbell - Peoria, AZ and Casandra Becker - Glendale, AZ; also 11 great grandchildren, David and Sarah Garber, Lillian Austin, Flynn Radford, Destiny, Tylan, Avery and Paxton Ferguson, Brayden, Colby and Dylan Bontrager; sister, Susie Graber and brothers, Glen Schrock, Orvan Schrock and Lawrence Schrock.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister Florence Stoltzfus.

Celebration of Life will be 11 am Friday, January 6, 2023, at Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 am to 4 pm Thursday at Elliott Mortuary and from 6 to 8 pm at the church with family present.

Click here to watch the funeral service for Irene Beckler beginning at 10:40 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mennonite Friendship Communities, to benefit the church's fundraiser for new bathtub equipment, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.