Irene Wahl

Irene Wahl Brooklyn to Bountiful 1914 - 2009 Irene Wahl, 94, passed away on May 2, 2009, in Bountiful, Utah after living a long and prosperous life. Born July 17, 1914, shortly after her parents immigrated to the United States from Norway. Born to Karl and Martha Torp, she was proud of her Norwegian heritage and brought many of their customs into her own home. Irene was raised in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, where music and church were an important part of her family’s life. She learned to play the piano at a young age, and she and her best friend Ruth (Hansen) Winther, preformed in many shows and musicals. They even had the opportunity and performed for the King and Queen of Norway while the royal couple was touring the United States. After graduating from high school, Irene worked in a bank in New York City. It was there that she met her husband, Emil C. Wahl. Shortly after marrying, like many of the “greatest generation”, Emil enlisted in the United States Army and served bravely in the European theater of the war. Between his service to his country and recovery from illness during the war, Irene and he were separated for nearly six years. After his recovery, Emil and Irene moved to Nutley, New Jersey, where they started a family. She attended Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir. She was a faithful member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nutley, New Jersey, where she served as President of the Women’s Group and on many committees with her friend Helen Blair. After health issues, Irene moved to Utah, where she spent six happy years at Country Care Assisted Living Facility in Farmington, Utah. She enjoyed the atmosphere there and attending church functions organized by the Country Care Ward. She loved the mountains of Utah – she said they reminded her of Norway. She spent a short period of time at Orchard Cove in Bountiful, where she received excellent care until she passed away. Irene is survived by her two sons, Allen (Judith Cashman) and Raymond (Shana); two grandsons, Daniel and Michael, and one great granddaughter, Lily Ann Griggs. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother and protector, Harry, and her devoted husband Emil. A gathering to celebrate Irene’s life will be held at the Kingsland Park gazebo (off of Rutgers Place) Nutley, New Jersey on June 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. (in conjunction with the regular Holy Trinity Lutheran Church service). A graveside prayer for the immediate family will immediately follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 158 Vreeland Avenue, Nutley, NJ 07110. Funeral directors Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com