Irene Helen Stahlhut

Irene Stahlhut, 95, was born on November 2, 1926 in Madison, Ohio. When she was still an infant her parents, John and Florence Eland, moved to Beech Grove, Indiana and John (Jack) began working at the Big 4 Railroad Center in Beech Grove. Irene was the 2nd of 6 children to be born to Florence and Jack.

Irene attended grades 1 through 8 at Holy Name Elementary School. World War II was happening as Irene began high school at Beech Grove High School. Sometime during High School Irene met, and briefly dated, Robert Stahlhut before he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. She wrote to him, as well as to other service men during the war, which was the patriotic thing for every young woman to do.

When Robert was acting as a top turret gunner in a B-17 on a bombing mission in Germany, the plane was shot down and he spent the next 22 months as a Prisoner of War until Germany surrendered. He and Irene corresponded during that time. After the war ended in Europe, the prisoners were released from prison camp, and Robert and his fellow POWs made their way back to the U.S. Shortly after his arrival Bob and Irene got together and, within 3 weeks, they were married.

Bob was discharged from the service in November 1945. He began to look for work in Indy. He went back to Allison but was laid off. Then he went to Harmening Engineering and then to Quality Tool and Die. In 1946 Irene’s first child, Jacqueline, was born.

Soon it was 1948. Bob decided to re-enlist in the Air Force. Eventually, Irene and little Jackie joined him in Fairbanks, Alaska, where James Michael was born. Eventually Bob was reassigned to Puerto Rico. Irene and the children joined him there. The family spent a lot of their free time on the beach. Shortly before returning to the States their third child, Frankie, was born.

Bob decided it was time to leave the service when rumors of war in Korea began to become a real threat. He took a job at Rough Notes Co., where Irene had worked. The family returned via ship to the States. In New York they picked up the car they had purchased and drove back to Indiana. Their first home was located in Beech Grove. Bob became an apprentice printer at Rough Notes and the family experienced a rapid growth. Between 1953 and 1959 Irene gave birth to Robert, Sandra, Theresa, Thomas, and Jeffrey.

Obviously the 2-bedroom house was becoming a bit crowded. Irene and Bob spent their “spare time” planning their dream home. Less than a year after moving into their unfinished home in Decatur Township, Joanna was born, followed by Stephen. The oldest child, Jackie, married and left the home just 4 days after Stephen was born.

Irene and Bob continued to live in the house on Ralston Road as the children grew, became involved in sports and other activities in school, and one by one graduated from Decatur Central and left home to made lives of their own. Irene rejoined the workforce on a part time basis working at the Convention Center at various banquets. Bob continued working at Rough Notes until his retirement.

Regarding religious faith, Bob and Irene’s marriage of 72 years was an ecumenical one. They were married in a Lutheran parsonage, and the marriage was later blessed by the Catholic priest in Puerto Rico.
While Bob worshipped at the Lutheran Church, Irene took the children to Mass and school and catechism classes at Holy Name and St. Ann. In recent years the couple attended Mass together at St. Ann on Saturday and services at Our Shepherd Lutheran on Sunday.

Besides rearing 10 children, loving 36 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren, one of Irene’s greatest achievements was “1st Sunday of the Month.” For well over 40 years the 1st Sunday at 1:00 PM was the time for the whole extended family to gather for a meal. In this way sisters and brothers, in-laws, cousins, and their offspring were able to get together and maintain relationships. Often there were 40 to 60 people at the gatherings. Until recent years she provided the food and drink for everyone present. Covid has put a damper on 1st Sunday gatherings, but the tradition continues.

Irene knew how to find a sale in every instance from yard sales to grocery and department stores. She would drive miles for a good deal. Irene was a very strong yet shy woman with a great sense of humor and a welcoming spirit who will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday January 21, 2022 11am at St. Ann Catholic Church 6350 S. Mooresville Road, Indianapolis, IN with visitation Thursday, January 20, 2022 at Flanner Buchanan Decatur Township from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. Irene will be laid to rest at West Newton Cemetery, West Newton, Indiana. The family request in lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Ann Parish where she has been a member since 1960, or the donor’s favorite charity. Due to the continued concerns of COVID-19 virus, it is strongly recommended that masks be worn as well as observing social distancing while paying your respects to Irene’s family. To sign her online guest registry and share a favorite memory with her family you are invited to go to www.flannerbuchanan.com