Funeral services for Ione Helen Varenhorst, 76, of Albert Lea will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Ione died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Ione Helen Varenhorst was born March 8, 1938, the daughter of Helen Johanna Jenson in Pickerel Lake Township. Ione grew up in the Albert Lea area. She attended Ramsey Elementary School and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1956. Ione worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell, Queens Manufacturing and St. John’s Lutheran Home. On Nov. 23, 1963, Ione was united in marriage to John Varenhorst at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Ione was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, was active in Altar Guild and Lois Circle and was wonderful at making coffee for large church events. She enjoyed shopping, cross stitching, reading and watching TV. Ione was grateful for the love and support given to her by her cousins, Phyllis Tavis, JoAnn Malepsy, Lorraine Malepsy and Elaine Porter and special friends, Junice Claussen, Barbara Larson and Pat Goldman. Ione wanted to give a special thank you to the staff at St. John’s Lutheran Community, Hospice and the Rev. Curtis and Sonya Zieske for their loving care.

Survivors include her step-children, Sue Varenhorst and Reid Varenhorst, numerous cousins in Albert Lea and the surrounding area and many friends.

Ione was preceded in death by her mother, Helen; husband, John Varenhorst and numerous aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church Altar Guild, Hospice or American Cancer Society.