Irene Hopp

Irene Hopp left her earthly home on March 13, 2021 at the age of 97 and is now in the presence of her Heavenly Father. Irene was born on June 8, 1923 in St. Croix County at home on the family farm of her parents near Baldwin, WI. She was the 7th child of Herman and Elizabeth Grotenhuis. She attended East Baldwin School which her father had also attended after moving to the US from Holland at age 5. All of her siblings attended school there as well. Irene attended the new Baldwin High School and was in the first class to graduate in 1941. She was the last remaining survivor of that class of 61 students.

Irene did a few jobs in and around Baldwin until July 1942 when she moved to Waupun, WI where she found work at JC Penney, National Rivet Mfg, grocery stores, shoe factory and Mars restaurant. She met her husband Louis Hopp and they were married April 22, 1944 at the Alto Reformed Church. She resided in Waupun most of her life until 2005 when she moved to Marshalltown, IA to be near her daughter Mary.

Irene loved God, her country, family and friends, cooking, reading, baking and doing craft projects. Music was also a favorite and she enjoyed playing organ and piano. She was a member of Emmanuel Reformed Church in Waupun since her marriage and actively attended there until her move to Iowa. She sang in the choir and participated in women’s organizations at the church. She volunteered for many years at the Waupun Senior Center. She attended crochet classes there for years and later taught crochet class for many years making many new good friends. She was an active member of the Waupun Hospital Auxiliary. Following her move to Iowa she attended 1st Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown and enjoyed years of playing cards at the “Y”. She loved people and volunteering. She was a kind and generous person who lived her life to the fullest. She will be missed but wanted everyone to know “it is well with her soul”.

She leaves her four loving children – Marlene Snyder - Albion, IA; David (Connie) Hopp - Waupun, WI; Mary (Pat) Hemming – Albion, IA; Cindy (Wayne) Dahlke – Wausau, WI. There are six grandchildren – Tina (Dr. Matt) Aalsma – Indianapolis, IN; Tricia (David) Morgan – Highlands Ranch, CO; Tara Hopp – Portland, OR; Philip (Kate) Hemming – Pella, IA; Dr. Sarah Hemming-Meyer – Cedar Rapids, IA; Jenna (Sam) Hansen – Wausau, WI. There are also eleven great grandchildren – Josie, Norah and Merritt Aalsma; Benjamin, Carter and Skyla Morgan; Shaun, Parker, Palmer and Onna Hemming and Kyley Jo Meyer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Louis in 1982, sisters Lucy Hopp, Cora Haushchildt, Bessie Bartlett, Clara Harmsen, Mae DeYoung, Pearl Grotenhuis, one brother George Grotenhuis, and grandson-in-law Joseph Meyer along with many dear friends, nieces and nephews.



Services will be held on Monday, 3/22 at 1st Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown at 3:00 PM with visitation at 2:00 PM and Wednesday, 3/24 at Werner Harmsen Funeral Home in Waupun at 3:00 PM with visitation one hour earlier. Please follow CDC guidelines for masks and social distancing.



Memorial contributions are suggested to Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah and 1st Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown.