Irene Renee Kjellberg

Irene Renee Kjellberg passed away on November 12, 2020, at the age of 77, with the love of her children surrounding her. The past few years had been difficult for Irene after her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and the most recent limits to the visits she could have from family and friends because of the pandemic. While she may have forgotten many people, she never lost her love for music and dancing or her love for children. Whenever she saw her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her face lit up and she was filled with joy. Irene was born on September 6, 1943 to Erick and Mary (Samuelson) Peterson and grew up in Menahga. Irene was the baby of the family with seven older brothers Kenneth, George, Delmar, Roger, Eric, Lyle, and Gary. After high school, she married Larry Jacob and had three children, Rocky, Kitten (Kitty), and Jada. She continued her affinity for unusual names several years later when she had another daughter, Renata, with William Stephens. She married Kevin Kjellberg and had her youngest daughter, Cally. Irene was an avid gardener and loved animals. She had a pet crow named “Caw”, raccoons, and several dogs over the years. Irene particularly loved to sing karaoke and dance. She loved singing Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” and dancing to pretty much anything being played. Menahga Midsummer Days were Irene’s favorite because she loved a good street dance and having everyone at her house to watch the parade and in the evening, the fireworks over Spirit Lake. She also loved celebrating St. Urho’s Day and passing out FREE tickets (to nothing) in the parade. Irene was known for a long period of time as the “Upholstery Lady” and opened up her own business with the same name. Over the years, she also gave many people perms, hair dyes, and haircuts since she was a graduate of the Fergus Falls beauty school in her younger years. Her children will always remember her as the mom who could do anything—from changing her own oil to jumping in a well hole filled with snakes to fix a leak. She was a strong woman, but for all her grit and strength, she also had beauty. She was Homecoming Queen and Miss Menahga growing up. But her beauty was not just skin deep, she always saw the good in people and was kind to all. Irene was the kind of mom her kids called every day. Her children grew up with both a dedicated mom and a best friend. While Alzheimer’s may have taken the last few years from Irene in many ways, her family knows that Irene lived a life well-lived and full of love from her family and friends. Irene had no regret in life. She recognized she made some mistakes along the way, but always said that she would never change those mistakes, because if she did, she would not have the most important part of her life—her children. Irene’s children never doubted her love for them and through that love, Irene’s legacy will live on. Irene is survived by her son Rocky Jacob (Sebeka), daughter Kitty Jacob and Allen Reierson(Brainerd), daughter Jada Jacob (Chanhassen), daughter Renata Parks and Mark Koehnen (Menahga), daughter Cally Kjellberg-Nelson and Matt Nelson (Maple Lake), grandson Brandon and Lindsey Shepersky (Menahga), granddaughter Kasha and Tom Hensley (Maple Grove), grandson Zachary and Desjanna Shepersky (Brainerd), grandson Avery Parks (Bemidji), grandson John Koehnen (Menahga), grandsons Tucker, Mason, and Pierce Nelson (Maple Lake), a granddaughter due in March 2021, great-grandsons Zachary and Isaiah Shepersky (Brainerd), great-granddaughters Sloan and Keira Shepersky (Menahga); brother Gary and Karen Peterson(Coon Rapids), sister in law Josephine Peterson (Menahga), sister in law Alice Peterson (Menahga), many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. A memorial service will be held on December 12, 2020 at 11:00 am at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga, Minnesota with a one hour visitation period prior to the service and a reception following the service. The family asks that you please join them as they celebrate Irene, the beautiful life she lived, and the person she was.