Irene Ermel, 105, Bronson, died Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, at Allen County Reginal Hospital.
She was born Nov. 9, 1911, in Mapleton, the daughter of George Washington Howerton and Rebecca Hays Howerton. She married Ernest William Ermel Jan. 22, 1930, in Mound City. Irene was a devoted wife and mother. She raised big gardens to supply the needs of her family. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and was known for her homemade breads and cinnamon rolls. She also liked to quilt and sew and tend to her flowers. She was a member of the Xenia Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher. In later years, she attended the Bronson Baptist Church.
Survivors include her four children, Carlene Rubicam, Smithville, Mo., Barbara Woodward (Richard), Bronson, Cheryl Stewart (Ivy), Cypress, Texas, and Fred Ermel, Moran. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Ernest, preceded her in death in January 1996. She also was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Samuel and Robert Howerton; two sisters, Beulah Bruner and Opal Ferguson; and a great-great-granddaughter, Ryenne Hicks.
The Rev. Tom Waters will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bronson Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Bronson Cemetery. The family will receive friends starting at 1 p.m. Saturday until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Bronson Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel, 501 Pine St. P.O. Box 93, Bronson, KS 66716.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Irene Ermel
