Irene M. Hinrichs

Irene M. Hinrichs left this earth on December 23rd, 2023 in time to celebrate a heavenly birthday with her twin sister. Born to Ernest and Selma Joos, creating a family of 5 shortly before the Great Depression, she learned to live simply.

At the age of 14 she entered the nursing field as an aide and continued in that field, finally fully retiring as a nurse from St. Vincent’s Infirmary, shortly before her 69th birthday. She was very proud of achieving a little place of her own and a little flower garden, never living rich, but able to pay her way. In retirement she loved to read, do needlework, make Christmas tree skirts and wire and rock trees, and make annual trips home to northern Wisconsin where a family reunion was a must. She also made 4 or more trips a year to Texas to see her sister Marion, where she enjoyed Sunday family dinners and family game night with her nieces and nephews.

She was the last of her siblings, having been preceded in death by her parents, brothers Robert, Arthur and Richard Joos and sisters Marion Anderson and twin Ilene Glanville.

She leaves behind to cherish her memories and relive the many stories of her, her daughters Mary Williams (James), Rosemarie Gehrke (John), Barbara Zakrzewski (Stephen), Diane McGinnis (Joe) and son Garland (Gary) Vedder, 14 grandchildren, 18 great- grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, 19 nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives and friends. Visitation will be January 3rd at 3 pm, with service immediately following at 4pm, at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, AR. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Shriners Children’s Hospitals or Sherrif's Boys Ranch of your choosing.