Irene was born in 1915 the last of 9 children to Mary Watilo and John Honkala, sadly her father John died the year she was born and then her mother Mary died when she was almost 11, so she and her sister Helmi was raised by her step father Andrew Heikkinen and her other sisters Ida, Alma and Jennie

Irene S. Harp, 94, Anderson, passed away March 8, 2010, at the Monticello House after an extended illness. She was born May 4, 1915 in a farmhouse on the shore of Smokey Lake, Iron County Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The daughter of John and Mary Honkala, she was very proud of her Finnish heritage and was first generation American. She was a homemaker and a life long member of Christ Lutheran Church. Irene loved to knit and many family member and friends were recipients of her lovely work. Her apple pie, beef & noodles, homemade bread and sweet rolls were beyond compare. For over 25 years she volunteered at various nursing home facilities in Anderson. In 1994 she was named volunteer of the Year for Madison County. Left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Joyce H. (Max) Hurd and Marilyn H. Tracy; three grandchildren, Susan (Tom) Gourley, Neil M. Hurd (companion Becky Van Camp) and David M. Hurd; two great grandchildren, Ava Irene and Ella Marie Gourley; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Harp; 13 nephews; two nieces; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil "Johnny" Harp; and five sisters, Ida, Hilma, Alma, Jenny and Helmi. A special Thank You to the staff of the Monticello House for their kindness and caring. Service will be at 1:00 P.M. Thursday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Carstens officiating. Entombment will be in East Maplewood Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Alzheimer's Association in honor of Joyce H. Hurd or the donor's favorite charity.

As a interesting fact the deer in the photo at the top of the page is a real deer that has been frozen.