A memorial service for Irmgard Rhodes, 93 of Heath will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday October 17, 2024 at the Newark Chapel of Vensil & Chute Funeral Home. A visitation will be observed from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mrs. Rhodes passed away on October 2, 2024 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center operated by Hospice of Central Ohio.  She was born May 5, 1931, in Munich, Germany to Josef and Walburga (Spiess) Kern.

She married US Army GI (Sgt. Grant A. Rhodes) in Germany in 1963. She moved to Ohio when Grant received orders for Vietnam, while stationed at Fort Carson Colorado. Irmgard remained close to his family in Newark Ohio, while he served our country. Sadly, he was killed in 1966. Irmgard never remarried. She often visited his gravesite, tidied the landscape and complained about the shoddy upkeep, as was her way.

She retired from Denison University, having served at Whistler Hall. For many years she used to enjoy her monthly coffee klatsch sessions with her cherished German friends.

She had been a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and enjoyed Pastor Rauch, for hosting German Christmas services. She later then became a member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Heath, Ohio.

She enjoyed baking, especially her famous apple cake and cheesecake, and loved to prepare her special version of German potato salad.

Irmgard was a perfectionist at heart, delighted in arranging seasonal decorations, tending her flower gardens and caring for her bird bath.

She was nicknamed the "Glenwood Dog Lady". Max, Lucy and Milo still pine for their "snacks" and porch visits. She loved to ride her 3-wheeled her bike around the Glenwood Condos to exercise & chat.

Special thanks to her caregiver "Holly" Purtee, plus her longtime friend Betty Kamphowe who provided care and companionship when Irmgard needed it most.

Irmgard will be missed at Jodie's Family Hair Care, where she entertained the other clients and the hair stylists, discussing the soap operas, politics, current events and community gossip. Lorraine Madden, neighbor, will miss taking her there and seeing everyone light up when she entered the salon!

She is survived by her son, Wilhelm (Will) Kern, daughter-in-law Cheryl (Cheri) Kern; granddaughter, Kelly Kern and husband, William Malone; great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Alessandra; special nephew, Pita (Ursula) Janssen and several cousins in Germany.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Grant A. Rhodes and a sister.

The family requests memorial contributions in her memory be sent to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, SE Newark, OH 43055.