Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Irene Daum Henze went to walk with the Lord on November 22, 2024, in New Braunfels, TX, at the age of 99.  She was born October 30, 1925, in New Braunfels to Edgar and Erna Vogel Daum.  She attended Carl Schurz Elementary School and New Braunfels High School.  Irene spoke only German when she enrolled in first grade.  In high school during the Depression, she worked at Camp Warnecke as a waitress, getting paid $5 a week.

Irene was a fourth-generation descendent of Christian Ludwig Louis Vogel, who was a founding father of New Braunfels and First Protestant Church.  Her other great-grandfather, Johann Daum, was a founding father of St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church.

Irene always loved to tell the story of how she and Calvin, her husband of 77 years, met at a dance at Echo Hall in New Braunfels in 1943.  They were married on Valentine's Day in 1947.  They enjoyed dancing throughout their married life.  She and Calvin had 2 daughters.  She was active in their school in the PTA and as room mother in both San Antonio and Memphis.  In addition, she was a member of the Women's Fellowship at church and taught Sunday School at their San Antonio church.  When the family moved to Memphis, TN, in 1961, Irene was chairperson of the board of trustees of their Memphis church, and she and Calvin were sponsors of the Youth Fellowship Group.  She later tutored elementary at-risk students.  When they moved to Orlando, FL, she became a hostess to all their friends who wanted to go to Disney World.  Irene made over 100 trips to Disney, taking their guests.

She enjoyed helping people every place she and Calvin lived.  She loved baking for people, especially her grandchildren, and was famous for her delicious cakes.

Irene and Calvin returned to New Braunfels in November, 2005, where they joined First Protestant Church and a dance club.

Irene was preceded in her death by her parents, her brothers Leroy and Harold, her sisters Lillian, Leona, and Nell Rose Weir.  She was also preceded in death by her husband of 77 years, Calvin, who recently died July 16, 2024, at the age of 100.  She is survived by her two daughters Sandra Cress (Kim) and Patti Salkowski (John), grandchildren Kevin Cress (Kristin), Greg Cress (Monica), Kerri Cress Ryan (Steve), Kate Salkowski (Jonathan Lewis), and David Salkowski (Malavika Rajeev), three great-grandchildren, Luke Ryan and Jonathan and Joshua Cress, and her nieces and nephew.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home in New Braunfels, Texas with the Rev. Andrew Keuer officiating.  The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM prior to the service.  Interment will follow at 1:00 PM at Lone Oak Cemetery in Geronimo, Texas.

Memorials may be sent to First Protestant Church or a charity of your choice.