Irma Sanford (Kresl)

7/25/1922 - 2/8/2019

Irma
Ann Kresl was born July 25, 1922 in Dodge, Nebraska, to Ludvig Kresl and Anna
Chudomelka Kresl.  Her grandparents were Stepan and Anna Kresl, and
Frank and Anna Chudomelka.  Her
great-grandparents were Frantisek and Eva Janecek Chudomelka, who came to Dodge
from Bohemia in 1871.

Irma
had two brothers, Leon and John. At an early age Irma and her cousin Florence
Mlnarik claimed each other as “sisters”, a lifelong bond.

Irma
attended St. Wenceslaus grade school and graduated from Dodge High School.  Irma and her good friend Irene went to Omaha
to find work.  After Leon graduated from
Dodge High School, their mother moved to Omaha with their younger brother
John.  After a time Irma and Leon got her
settled in a house on Grand Avenue.

Irma
met Ken Sanford who had purchased the house next door on Grand Avenue for his
parents.  They were married May 13, 1950.
They bought a house nearby, on 24

^th

and Meredith.  Here three children were born:  Mary Ann in 1951, Kenneth Charles in 1953,
and James in 1954.

About
1956, Ken and his older brother Chuck rented a farm near Leshara Nebraska, and
both families moved there.  Rita Jean was
born during this time, in 1957.

After
a year, Irma and Ken rented a farm near Lindsay, Nebraska.  There, in 1958, John David was born.

The
family returned to Omaha in 1962 and settled into a house in the Minne Lusa
area.  Irma and Ken were both concerned
with John, who had autism and cerebral palsy among other health problems.  They both attended meetings at the state and
local level and advocated for education and vocational training.  Irma was there during the growth of GOARC
and ENCOR. 
She came to know many of the wonderful people who taught and worked with
John.

Irma
retired from Teamsters Local 554 at 62. 
She took care of John until he died in 1995.

As
busy as life kept her, her focus was her family.  Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren
and great-great grandchildren – she loved us and let us know that she lived for
us.  She was proud of her ‘big bunch’ of
family.  She opened her heart to her
grandkids’ spouses, and their parents and siblings.  She stretched her definition of ‘family’ as
far as necessary to include all the important people in her life.  We learned so much from her.  We won’t forget.

Preceded
in death by son John David, brother Leon, younger sister Marcella, brother
John, “sister” Florence, and parents.

Survived
by Ken and Mary Claire Sanford, Rita Sanford, Mary Wood and James Sanford.

13 Grandchildren – 19 Great-grandchildren – 2 Great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation Tuesday, February 19, 2019 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM with Rosary at 7:00 PM at Roeder Mortuary, 108th Street Chapel; Funeral Mass 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at Holy Name Catholic Church 2901 Fontenelle Blvd. Omaha, Nebraska; Interment Calvary Cemetery Omaha, Nebraska.

In Lieu of Flowers Memorials can be made to Holy Name Catholic Church or House of Hope.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel; 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000; www.RoederMortuary.com