Gladys “Irene” Shear of Southside, Arkansas, passed peacefully with all of her family by her side on the morning of Tuesday, March 21, 2023. She was born on December 15, 1938, in Coulter, Iowa to Richard Thielen and Gladys (Rodemeyer) Thielen.
After growing up on the farm with her parents and nine other siblings, Irene married Richard Shear of Hampton, Iowa on April 20, 1958, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Latimer, Iowa.
Irene worked at Standard Oil, United Hydraulics, and as a purchasing manager at Seabee Corporation in Hampton, Iowa for many years before moving to Mesa, Arizona. In Arizona, she worked in insurance at a podiatrist clinic, then later as an office manager at the Hayden Flour Mill. After retirement, Richard and Irene moved to Arkansas to be closer to her son and grandkids. She volunteered at many places including the White River Medical Center, where she visited patients and later worked in their gift shop, and Help & Hope, where she sorted and gave out donated clothes. She was very involved in the local garden club, Red Hat Society, and Silver Sneakers.
In her passing, Irene joined her parents and all of her siblings. Irene is survived by her husband of almost 65 years, Richard; son, David (Maggie) Shear of Desha, Arkansas; daughter Dixie Shear of Englewood, Colorado, and Dawn (Jake) DeBoe of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Terah Shear (John Bearden), Alex Shear (Ike Zimmerman), Luke (Bridget) Shear, and Jessica DeBoe; four great-grandchildren, Declynn Bearden, Owen Cooper, David Cooper, and Casval Shear along with several nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral Service will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in Batesville, Arkansas, with Rev. Gerald Heinecke officiating. Her burial will follow the service at Oaklawn Cemetery in Batesville.
Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until service time.
Pallbearers will be Luke Shear, Jake DeBoe, John Bearden, Ike Zimmerman, Steve Kruse, and Rich Burns.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Irene’s name to the Hope Lutheran Church of Batesville, Arkansas.
