Obituaries : Irvin J. “Irk” Junge

Irvin J. "Irk" Junge, 99, died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Van Horne, with Father Jacob Dunne as celebrant. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery, with graveside military rites conducted by the Merkel-Bockholt American Legion Post #107, and Iowa Military Honors. Visitation will be held at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.

Irvin J. Junge, known to family and friends as "Irk" was born November 10, 1925, to Louie and Emma (Seeck) Junge in Keystone. He attended country school in Keystone. He enlisted in the United States Army and served his Country during World War II.

Irk met his future wife Betty Sizer, at the Knights of Columbus USO during World War II and they married on March 10, 1947, at St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. They moved to Iowa and lived on a farm near Keystone until 1984 when they built a house and moved to town. Betty preceded him in death in 2015, after 68 years of marriage.

Irk, enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards, and socializing with his many friends and family. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Merkel-Bockholt American Legion Post #107, and the Keystone Turners.

He is survived by his children, Jerry (Karen Stark) Junge of Keystone, Terry (Lonnie) Carney of Atkins; daughter-in-law Kris (Jurgens) Junge of Van Horne; five grandchildren, Kristie Swick of Urbandale, Jeff (Angela Randall) Junge of Blairstown, Noah (Meghann Staebell) Junge of Jesup, Megan Junge of Cedar Rapids and Tracey (Ed Ketelsen) Carney of Atkins; granddaughter-in-law, Tami (Wilhelmi) Junge of Atkins; four step-grandchildren, Tina Hill, David, Jamey and Mike Carney and their families; 12 great-grandchildren, Gracie, Anna and Turner Swick, Trey Mills Junge, Tyson Breedlove, Laura, Jacob and Cael Junge, and Mason, Claire, Colin, and Dylan Junge.

Irk was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife Betty; his son Marty Junge in 2021; his grandson, Nathan "Nate" Junge in 2023; brother Curtis (Ruth) Junge; 3 sisters, Dorothy (Lloyd) Petersen, Lois (Delmar) Schlotterbeck, and Marilyn (Russell) Rieder

Condolences may be left at www.phillips funeralhomes.com.