Mom's beautiful singing voice stopped on October 4, 2014 when she passed away at the age of 90. Irma (Weisensel) Irwin was born February 5, 1924, at home at 117 Dewey St. She was the last of four children born to Otto J. Weisensel and Rosalie (Duschack) Weisensel. Growing up, she attended Sacred Hearts Elementary School where she sang in the girl's choir. At ten, she began her formal and lifelong devotion to music with private piano and voice lessons in the family parlor. Later in her Sun Prairie High School years, she soloed in operettas. Tutored by U.W. Madison music professors, she had her own program on WHA Radio at the age of 18. One Saturday night at Angell Park pavilion, she joined the Harry James band in song. She also worked at Weisensel's Department Store, the family business. Graduating in 1941, she attended Ripon, then Edgewood College. She received an associate degree from Scott Community College in 1994 at the age of 70 and was just 18 credits shy of her Bachelor's Degree, stopping only when she suffered a series of strokes. In high school, she met her husband-to-be James Irwin and married him in 1943 at Camp Pendleton, CA where she sang for soldiers in NCO clubs. Between rearing six children (the last four as a single mother), she sang lead in more choirs and continued taking voice lessons. She was a wonderful mother who dedicated her life to her children. She retired from the US Department of Defense in 1994 after 31 years. She is survived by her children Michael Irwin, Patricia Matthews, Robin, Laurie (husband, Jim Mickowski), Nathan (wife, Helen and Joel (wife, Donna) Irwin. She was blessed with five grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Her parents have passed on as well as her three siblings, Doris Meister, and Norbert and Roy Weisensel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2014 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 227 Columbus Street, Sun Prairie, with Monsignor Duane Moellenberndt presiding. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church on Friday. Our mom will rest in a plot surrounded by her birth family at Sacred Heart Cemetery. A lunch at the church's parish center will follow burial rituals. A special thank you to Dr. Greg Motl, Agrace Hospice Care and the staff at Kindred Hearts Assisted Living who loved and cared for mom for so many years.
Service music was chosen by-you–know-who. “Those who sing well pray twice.” (Saint Augustine)

Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com