Irma Irene Wamhoff of Hopkins died at age 97 Sunday Sept. 20.Irma was born in Krem, ND to Edward and Amalia Oster. She grew up helping on the family farm and often told of times she drove horses, once as many as six at a time. She often took her siblings to school in a sleigh or buggy.
Irma moved with her family to Hopkins when she was a teenager. She worked as a housekeeper and nanny, at Weick’s grocery store and at JCPenney’s in Allegan as a salesperson and window dresser.
Irma married Raymond Wamhoff, on June 16, 1950. She worked tirelessly as a partner in the dairy farm business and homemaker raising her children, Daniel, Kathleen, Charles, Timothy and Jayne.
She would often say “To each his own said the old lady as she kissed the cow” or when worrying about the cleanliness of your house she would say “No one should look for their cow there” then add “It always sounds better in German.”
She is survived by her sisters, Erna Smith and Gladys Schultz; sisters/brother in law, Betty Oster, Winona Langen, Carroll and Marlene Wamhoff, and Marcia Jacoby. Irma is also survived by her children, Daniel (Gwen) Wamhoff, Kathleen (Robert) Scofield, Charles (Barbara) Wamhoff, and Jayne (Robert) Moore; as well as grandchildren, Timothy (Donna) Wamhoff, Edward (Deanna) Wamhoff, Paul (Lindsay) Wamhoff, Stephan (Whitney) Wamhoff, John (Julia) Wamhoff, Daniel (Kaitlyn) Scofield, Stephanie Moore and Timothy Shin, Melissa Moore and Sean Rogers, Amanda Moore and Casey Hayes, Ashley Moore, Christina Moore, Madelyn Moore, Craig (Lori) Lang, and Andrea (Steve) Price. In addition, Irma was blessed with great grandchildren, Braden Wamhoff, Cole Wamhoff, Mason Wamhoff, RaeAnna Wamhoff, Isaiah Wamhoff, Benjamin Wamhoff, Michaela Wamhoff, Jameson Wamhoff, Ellie Wamhoff, Elliot Shin-Moore, Sean Moore, Lydia Price, Alex Price, Kaela (Jonathon) Dolan ,and Kortney (Tyler) Lister; and great great grandchildren, Hudson Dolan, Rhett and Holden Lister.
Irma was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Raymond Wamhoff; son, Timothy Wamhoff; sisters and brother, Viona Seals, Delora Tarno, Norman Oster; brothers /sisters in law, Bill Seals, Bud Tarno, Al Shultz, Dale Smith, Norma and Robert TerAvest, Marvin Wamhoff, Ray Langen, and Fred Jacoby.
The family will receive friends at the family farm (2080 130th Ave., Hopkins) from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at which time a funeral service will begin. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Hopkins Township.
