Irene Ida (Spies) Gummelt passed away peacefully at The Williamsburg House on August 3, 2024, at the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 11 days.  She was born on January 24, 1933, to Leonard and Maurine Heinsohn Spies in Lavaca County, TX.  She was baptized March 19, 1933, and confirmed on April 6, 1947, both at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Shiloh, TX.  She was the oldest of two daughters.  She attended parochial school at Shiloh and graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1950.

Irene married George Gummelt on July 17, 1951, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Shiloh.  She was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church, ELCA in Sublime and transferred her membership to Zion Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Schulenburg, TX in 2010, of which she was also a member of the women's group, The Dorcas Guild.

Irene was a devoted stay-at-home mom and was a seamstress sewing the girl's school clothes until her youngest daughter started first grade in 1973.  She then became the first female bus driver for Hallettsville Independent School District, a career that spanned 30 years until her retirement in 2003.  She was a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Irene was a hard worker and known for her strong work ethic.  It started in the cotton patch and corn fields alongside her husband, George and then became an avid gardener, raising everything from strawberries, peas, cucumbers, squash, okra, etc.  She had a loyal following of customers that depended on her for her fresh vegetables.  She also helped her husband in the raising of turkeys, hogs, cattle, and chickens.  She was an early riser milking several cows before her morning bus route which led to a lot of production of butter and cottage cheese.  After all this work, she still found time to maintain her yard and flower gardens.

Irene generously donated to several charities and was notable for donating hundreds of dozens of eggs to the local food pantry.  She enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and they loved all the golf cart rides they took with her on the farm through the years.

Irene is preceded in death by; parents Leonard and Maurine Spies, husband George, sister Delores Muhlstein and brother-in-law William.

She is survived by:  her four daughters, Janis Muehr (L.A.), LaVerne Eschberger (LaNoal), Ruth Muehr (Donald) all of Hallettsville and Debra Pieniazek (Jack) of Conroe; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great grandchildren.

The family expresses their sincere thanks to the Williamsburg House employees and to Hospice of South Texas for their excellent care during her stay.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Friday, August 9, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church of Schulenburg (103 Keuper Ave.). Visitation: starting at 5 pm Thursday Kubena Funeral Home with Prayer Service at 7 pm. Pallbearers: grandsons, Leonard, Layton, Leland and Lamont Muehr, Adrian and Blane Eschberger, Clayton Muehr and Ethan and Noah Pieniazek. Officiant: Rev Gary Johnson. Memorials: Hospice of South Texas, Zion Lutheran Church in Schulenburg or Donor's choice of charity. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery.