Earl D. Ihnen, age 90 of rural Glenwood, died Friday, December 08, 2017 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 14th at Indherred Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, Dec. 13th at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood and will continue at the church one our prior to the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Earl Dean Ihnen, the son of Harry and Selma (Bremer) Ihnen was born December 22, 1926 in Holstein, Iowa. He grew up on a farm in Iowa where he attended country school.

His family moved to Minnesota when Earl was a young man, which is where he met Alpha Jergenson. The couple was united in marriage on October 20, 1950 in East Zion Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck. Earl and Alpha made their home on a farm East of Glenwood for one year, until they purchased a farm Northwest of Glenwood in Reno Township, which has been their lifelong home. This marriage was blessed with five children. Earl and Alpha shared 44 years of marriage before Alpha passed away May 5, 1995.

Earl was a member of Indherred Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck, the Masonic Valley Lodge and Minnewaska Chapter of the Eastern Star. He enjoyed playing cards and golfing with his family. Earl loved to travel, with his wife, Alpha and later in life with his sisters, children and grandchildren. He enjoyed multiple trips to Alaska and Washington to visit his children. He also traveled to Norway, Germany, Washington DC, and almost every other state. Earl was loving and generous with a warm sense of humor. He will be remembered for his dedication to his wife, Alpha. He leaves behind a legacy of a loving family man that lives on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Earl is survived by his sons: Richard (Kim) Ihnen of Pasco, WA and Randall (Patti) Ihnen of Glenwood; daughters, Jeanette Rykhus of Glenwood, JoAnn Kohler (John Chipman) of Wasilla, AK, and Janell Wegener (David Jo Kuchera) of Villard; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; sister, Karen Koubsky of Glenwood; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alpha; sisters, Phyllis Holle, Florence Torguson, Vonnie Anderson and Jolene Munholand. 

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