Irene Helen (Galardi) Jepsen, 91, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023,
at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Irene was born November 8, 1931, in Jackson, Michigan. One of six children born to Frank and Costanza (LeDonne) Galardi, Irene grew up in Jackson until her senior year when her family moved to Huntington, West Virginia. She graduated from St. Joseph High School.
Irene was united in marriage to Delbert Dale Jepsen on January 14, 1959, in Topeka, Kansas. This union was blessed with three daughters, Diane, Julie, and Dena. They made their home in Lincoln County, Kansas, Phillips County, Kansas and Russell. Delbert preceded her in death on June 8, 2003.
Irene was an Editor for the Russell Daily News for many years. She was a member of the V.F.W. Post #6240 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed working with ceramics, reading books and dancing.
Irene’s surviving family include her daughters, Diane Cohan of Victoria, Kansas, and Julie Jepsen of
Los Angeles, California; sister, Mary Hogarty of Panama City Beach, Florida; three granddaughters,
Marjan Pekarek (Wesley), Roya Attari (Roni) and Dena Contreras, and three great-grandchildren; Raffael Attari, Evie Pekarek and Whitley Pekarek.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Delbert, and her daughter, Dena Renee Jepsen; sister, Georgina Conner; and three brothers, Albert Galardi, Alphonse Galardi and Joe Galardi.
A Celebration of Irene’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 11, 2023,
at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with St. Luke’s Hospice House.
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.