Arlene Rita Handke

Arlene R. Handke, 81, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, IA. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 23rd, at 1:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Guttenberg City Cemetery, Guttenberg, IA. Friends may call from 11:30 AM until time of services on Saturday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, Alzheimer's Association of Iowa, St. Croix Hospice in Charles City, IA, or Patty Elwood Center in Cresco.

Arlene Rita Handke was born on October 14, 1937, in Guttenberg, IA, the daughter of Lawrence and Adeline (Kann) Hoeger. She was united in marriage to Edgar A. Handke on October 14, 1956; to this union, four children were born. They later divorced. On May 10, 1985, she married James Burroughs and they later divorced.

Arlene always enjoyed a good game of euchre, traveling to Las Vegas, and spending time with her family and friends. She was a great cook and made wonderful holiday treats. She was very caring mother and grandmother and possessed a great sense of humor. Arlene was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She enjoyed volunteering at Veterans Memorial Hospital and St. Pat's Thrift Store, both in Waukon.

Survivors include her children: James (Louan) Handke of Marion, IA, Tami (Ron) Renne of Postville, IA, Michael (Sue Guyer) Handke of Waukon, and Lisa (Fred) Mathews of Lansing, IA; 13 grandchildren: Josh (Tara) Handke, Jessica (Ryan) Arp, Chris (Elise) Handke, Jeremy (Laura) Renne, Jamie (Jesse) Parker, Nick Renne, Ciarra (Matt Heiderscheit) Renne, Jenny (Zac Refshauge) Handke, Nikki (Billy) Breimon, Mike Handke, Jr., Bryce McCormick, Samantha (Lorenzo) Leon, and Cody (Reilly) Mathews; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister Germaine and brother Artie (Mary Ann) Hoeger, both of Guttenberg, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband Edgar, who died in 1978; a brother Merlin Hoeger; and a sister and brother-in-law Adele and Red Block.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter.