Irma (Krenz) Newton, Johnson, Alpers

Irma (Krenz) Newton, Johnson, Alpers, 94, of Wichita, Kansas, was welcomed into her Savior’s arms on September 23, 2023.Irma was born September 3, 1929, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, to Leopold G. and Selma J. (Schwan) Krenz. She was the fourth of eleven children. Irma married Rev. William E. Newton in St. Louis, Missouri. The couple had five children: Sherry Newton Waggoner, William (Jann) Newton, Jeanne Newton (Kent) Miles, Thomas (Jeannette) Newton, and Starla Newton (Mark) Stoppel. Following William’s death in 1958, Irma went back to school to complete her degree in education. She received a Call to teach at the Lutheran School in Haven, Kansas where she met and married Harold Q. Johnson in 1966. They had a child together, Theresa Johnson (Heath) Higbie, adding to the five children from Harold’s first marriage: Iver (Nancy-Deceased) Johnson, Mark (Colleen) Johnson, Zelpha-Deceased (Chris) Franzmann, Garth (Sherri) Johnson, and Adola (Kirk) Stocker. Following Harold’s death in 1988, Irma moved to Kansas City, Missouri. She married Rev. Arlin Alpers in 1992. Arlin’s three children, from his first marriage, were added to the family with this union: Denise (Roger) Elser, Mark (Josie) Alpers, and Karen (Bill) Bailey. Rev. Arlin Alpers went to be with his Lord in 2003.Irma’s life was centered on her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was baptized, and confirmed her baptismal vows in the Lutheran Church. While she was raising the last of her children, Irma earned her Master’s Degree in Administration. She was a Parish Worker, taught elementary school, was a Principal, taught Parenting Classes, was a Stephen Minister, spoke at churches to share about Lutherans for Life, worked with the Braille Ministry, began and led a Bible Study in her Retirement Community, and among many others, was an amazing basketball and softball player in her youth. Irma loved gardening, and truly enjoyed her travels to Germany and the Holy Lands. She was an active member of her church over the years as life took her to various congregations in numerous towns. While she was married to Rev. Alpers, she assisted him in weekly nursing home and hospital visits. Irma remained steadfast in faith her entire life.Irma was preceded in death and welcomed into heaven by her parents; spouses; daughter; daughter-in-law; granddaughter, Gerri Johnson; brothers, Richard, Leo Jr., Ernie, and Eddie Krenz; sisters, Gertrude Stager, Dorothea Whicker, and Margarete (Mick) Wiggins; and in-laws, William H. and Jeanne Newton, Robert Stager, Floretta Krenz, Lois Krenz, Fritz Bauer, J.R. Whicker, Yates Smith, Wayne Doss, Rev. Robert Zehnder, Janie and Duane Bowen, Charles and Marilyn Kromminga, Verda Opperman, Zelpha Orfield, Georgyee Burke, and Donnajean Rosser.She is survived by her children; 44 grandchildren (with 24 spouses); 54 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Selma Bauer, Esther Smith, Norma Doss; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 pm, Thursday, September 28, 2023, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Graveside Service will be at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.Memorials may be sent to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; The Lutheran Hour, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141; and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 N. Greenwich Road, Wichita, KS 67206.