Irene H. Rorabaugh

Irene H. Rorabaugh, 100, of Independence, Iowa, died Monday, May 11, 2026, at Prairie Hills Assisted Living in Independence, Iowa.

We will be gathering to celebrate Irene's life at Pitch Pizzeria and Restaurant. Please join us for a meal and a drink as we honor her memory of September 20, 2026, from 1:30 to 4 pm at 17808 Burke St., Omaha, Nebraska. She will be buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln Nebraska, on September 21, 2026, at 10 am, located at 6800 S 14th St., Lincoln, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, donations will be made to several charities decided by the family.

Irene was born on March 14, 1926, in Vesta, Nebraska, to Jerry Cornelius and Marie Elizabeth (Pfister) Dirksen. A graduate of Tecumseh High School in 1943, she then earned a degree from Lincoln School of Commerce and married Eugene Arthur Rorabaugh in 1948. She worked at Elgin National Watch Company, Herbergers Fabric Store, and a clothing store in Havlock. Throughout her life, Irene lived in various communities across Nebraska (Lincoln, Columbus, Rushville) and Minnesota (Spring Lake, Waseca, Fairmont) before moving to Iowa (Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls, Independence). She was known for her love of gardening, fishing, cooking, sewing, playing cards, and she cherished time spent with her family and friends.

Irene is survived by her sister Lois (Frank) Armknecht of Bozeman, Montana, and she is also survived by her 3 children: Butch (Denise) Rorabaugh of Winthrop, Iowa, Sharon (Troy) Gerhardt of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jim Rorabaugh of Torrington, Wyoming, and her 6 grandchildren, Heather Ware (Ahmad Hassan), Audrey (Jeff) Housel, Joseph (Matt) Rorabaugh-Irwin, Jesse Rorabaugh, Jacki Rorabaugh (Andrew Yee), Makayla Gerhardt (Kadeem Letts) and 5 great-grandchildren, Oscar, Brinley, Malia, Teegan, Desmond, and Yvette. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Bryce, and her brothers Lloyd, Norman, Kenneth, Edwin Dean, and one sister Ione Johnson.