Elizabeth D. Irwin, 88, of Colfax died Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center in Colfax.

Liz was born October 4, 1923, in Cadott, WI, to Charles and Anna (Blahnik) Jerabek. She was a 1941 graduate of Cadott High School. On August 10, 1946, she married Leonard Irwin, he preceded her in death in 1994. She and her husband farmed near Colfax and owned the South Side Tavern for 11 years. During her life Liz worked a number of jobs including Nelson Filter in Bloomer, where, after taking a class at CVTC, she was a welder. She also worked at Luther Hospital as a housekeeper, tended bar at Carts in Colfax and worked at the Grapevine Senior Center and in the lunch room in Colfax School System. She was a very determined lady who learned to drive at 50 years old. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Colfax and Colfax Lutheran Church.

She loved animals, especially chickens, and she loved to go with her family to Gordon to go fishing, she was always the one to fry the fish.

Survivors include a special friend, Ed Eggen; one son, Jim (Kathie) Irwin; and one daughter, Cheryl (Jim) Riebe; a niece, Geraldine LaGesse, who was raised by the Irwin family; five grandchildren, Timothy (Heather) Irwin, David (Kristina) Irwin, Christopher (Julie) Irwin, Holly (Travis) Morehead and Daniel (Lindsay) Riebe; and 11 great-grandchildren, James, Naarah, Malachi, Jedidiah, Ezekial, Taylor, Abby, Kyle, Benjamin, Maxwell and Grant.

Funeral services for Elizabeth Irwin will be Friday March 30, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Colfax Lutheran Church, with burial in Our Saviors Cemetery in Sand Creek.

Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Sampson Funeral Home in Colfax and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram; March 28, 2012