Irene Ekblad

On Monday August 8, 2016 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, Irene Ekblad, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, passed away. Her family includes her husband of 69 years, Alloy F. Ekblad(d. 2015); her four children, Lynne Ekblad Crutchfield (d. 2013) (John of Laporte), Cynthia Ekblad Meese (William) of Massachusetts, Kent Ekblad (Diann), and Larry Ekblad of Ft. Collins; eight grandchildren, John David Crutchfield (d. 1984), Erin Ekblad Edwards (Mike), Vicki Crutchfield Kersey (Clay), Shawn Ekblad Brunner (Jeremy), Robert Crutchfield (Alaina), Caleb Ekblad (Anne), Krysty Ekblad Williams (Ian), (Linda Ekblad mother of Caleb and Krysty), Jessica Meese; and great-grandchildren Richard and Hunter Edwards; Sophie, Savannah, and Sierra Falcone (Kersey); Cole, James, and Wyatt Williams; and Alexander Ekblad. Irene (Renee) Hale was born in St Louis, MO, on January 30, 1921. She graduated from St Louis high school in 1938. Shortly after Alvoy’s return to the United States, he met Irene Hale in St. Louis, MO, and they were married on February 15, 1946. While heading west to San Diego to settle with other family members, the two stopped for a visit to Irene’s sister in Fort Collins. Weeks turned into months, and, after working there briefly, Al and Irene purchased the Fort Collins Nursery from Clayton Watkins in 1946. Irene was the book keeper and worked the retail office for the Nursery and ran it with the same efficiency that she ran her home. In addition she was an Election Judge in Larimer County. Renee was very active in volunteering with Poudre Valley Hospital and many blood drives. Renee actively enjoyed working in the mountains with Al, and annually kept the accounting books while Al sold Christmas trees, wreathes, and roping from materials he cut and hauled from permitted harvesting areas in the national forests. Al and Irene were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church, helping to support and build two churches along the way. In 1961, they were a part of a small group of enthusiasts who conceived, purchased, and built what then became Sky Ranch Lutheran Bible Camp in Roosevelt National Forest. Al and Irene in their passion for helping others continued their support of Sky Ranch into recent years. A Celebration of Life Open House for Irene Ekblad will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Ekblad family home 1013 East Lake Street, Fort Collins, CO. A private family graveside service will be held. In consideration of the Ekblad family, the family would like donations in her memory to be directed to any of the following: Larimer County Alzheimer’s Support Group, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or American SIDS Institute, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.

Tributes

Irene Ekblad

January 30, 1921 - August 8, 2016