Bobbie Ihrke

Bobbie Ihrke, age 101, of Roberts, WI, passed away at River Falls Area Hospital on Saturday, January 23, 2021. Bobbie was born on July 7, 1919 to parents Clyde and Anna (Nyght) Sandburg. Bobbie graduated from Lake City High School in Iowa, where she met her husband Russell Ihrke. On October 21, 1939 the two were married and together they would be blessed with 5 children.

During WWII Bobbie worked as a welder along side Russell at the same shipyard until Russell was called into the Navy. After the war Bobbie became a full time mom and enjoyed gardening flowers and vegetables. She fed her family all year long with the food she grew and canned herself. Her canned pickles were her secret ingredient to her famous potato salad. She was also a skilled quilter and enjoyed embroidery. Russell and Bobbie moved from Iowa in 1958 to Roberts to operate a dairy farm together and to make sure their children were close to a university. Bobbie loved the Packers and was even called “grandma of the Packers” in an article by a Milwaukee reporter who interviewed her at a game she attended since she was born the same year the Packers were established. Bobbie was a strong woman who was able to live a very active and independent life right to the end, and will be missed greatly by her whole family.

She is survived by her children Max (Lynn), Neal (Ann), Marsha (Larry) Behrens, and Lew (Penny); grandchildren Joel, Jon, Clinton, Clayton, Lewann, Lyndsey, Jennifer, and Josephine. She is preceded in death by her husband Russell, son Jan E. and her parents.

A private family service will be held. Memorials may be directed to the family and sent to the funeral home at: O’Connell Funeral Home, Care of Bobbie Ihrke, 1010 Newton St. Baldwin, WI, 54002, to be forwarded on your behalf. Funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes.