In 1973, the family moved to Shawano and helped build their home in Wescott. Irma and her husband started The Staff of Life in 1978 which was a restaurant, health foods store and Christian bookstore. They ran the business for eighteen years before retiring in 1996. Irma also wrote a natural foods column for the Shawano Leader for seven years.

Irma married Ralph Arndt who was a Navy veteran who worked in the dangerous job of electrical construction as a civilian. He later died of cancer in 2013.

She found love again later in life with Pastor Richard “Dick” Brunner on March 1, 2019, in Shawano. The last three years of her life with him were a blessing.

She had a lifelong pursuit of the arts and literature, sharing her zest for life and love of God as a storyteller, musician and writer. She wrote 12 plays with Christian themes which she also directed, and she’s created dozens of programs that incorporated voice and violin which she performed for congregations, service clubs, nursing homes, and women’s groups. She played violin with the Green Bay Civic Symphony for 10 years, retiring in 2006. Irma played with the local folk group, String Fever, was a certified lay speaker for the Methodist Church and a member of the Shawano Area Writers. In a short biographical statement, she said, “Storytelling and creative writing are tremendous outlets.” and “Bringing to life a Gospel story or portraying the life of someone I know is my greatest joy!”.

Irma was a long-time member of the Shawano United Methodist Church and currently attended the Shawano Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; children, Thomas Timmons, Barbara (Steven) Kinkead, and Jean (T. Scott) Barrett; and grandchildren, Sarah (Ryan Burwinkel) Spencer, Alexander Kinkead, and Emerson Barrett; niece, Narda (Michael) Justice, nephew, Norman (Paula) Nelson; great nieces, Brianne and Haley; and great nephews, Brent, Bryce and Peter.

Irma is preceded in death by her husbands, Mel and Ralph; parents; brother, Howard Nelson; and nephew, Nathan Nelson.

A funeral service will be held at 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at Church on the Hill with visitation beginning at 4:00 pm. Rev. Andrew Haertl will be officiating the service. Burial will be at noon on Friday, April 29, 2022, at West Midway Cemetery in London Mills, Illinois.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff of ThedaCare at Home Hospice who made it possible for Irma to go to her heavenly home peacefully. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the TSC Alliance at the following link: https://www.tscalliance.org/donate/fund-research-2/.

Swedberg Funeral Home of Shawano is assisting the family with the arrangements.