Irene Alma Fieselman-Kerstiens

Irene Alma Fieselman (Kerstiens), 97, of Lakewood, Colorado, daughter of Alma and Herman Kerstiens, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2023. Irene was born March 11, 1925, on the family’s farm in Lakewood, Colorado.

On their farm they raised poultry, goats, some cattle, and several different crops. Irene attended 1st through 12th grades at Central Lakewood Elementary School/Lakewood High School at the northwest corner of Wadsworth Blvd and West 10th Ave., where all the grades were in one building.

Her father, Herman died when Irene was young and her mother Alma and older sister Lois, worked to support the family. Alma remarried several years later to Earl Petticrew, and they continued to live in Lakewood. In school Irene participated in many activities including baseball and basketball. She became active in the Lakewood Grange beginning at 14 years old.

Irene graduated from Lakewood High School in 1943. The day after graduation she boarded the train and moved to Washington D.C. She had passed the civil service exam and secured a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, prior to graduation. Prior to that, she had never lived anywhere else nor been out of the Lakewood area.

She lived in Washington D.C. for nearly 4 years working for the USDA on projects involving growing cotton. She returned to Colorado and went to work for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). At BOR she worked on various assignments including the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. After returning she also became active in the Lakewood Grange again.

Irene married Ralph Fieselman in 1947, and they spent the following 66 years together. They built their home together in Lakewood and resided there until his death. Irene continued to live in their home until shortly before her death. Following the birth of their son, Irene became a work from home Mom and worked part time doing book-keeping, tax preparation, real estate sales, and upholstery. In the early 1970’s, she went to work for Sentinel Publications and remained there until her retirement.

Irene had the pleasure of enjoying 36 years of retirement, in which she enjoyed caring for and mentoring her grandchildren, attending all of their events, volunteering, and was a part-time resident of Granby, Colorado for 18 years. Irene was an avid gardener and also enjoyed cooking, sewing, fishing, boating, camping, traveling, hunting, and pretty much anything else outdoors. She always had a craft, woodworking, or home improvement project going.

She is survived by her son Bill, daughter-in-law Terri, grandchildren Talya (Matt) and Riley Fieselman, and great-grandchildren Elliot and Parker, nephews John (Sandra) Mohatt and Gary Mohatt and their children. Preceded by parents, sisters Lois and Rosemary, and husband Ralph.

Irene’s ashes will be inurned along with Ralph’s at Fort Logan National Cemetery on November 20th, 2023 @ 1:45pm.