Irene Janette Morse

Irene Janette (Jahnke) Morse was born on November 05, 1936, in Hewitt, MN to Otto and Mabel Jahnke. When she was still quite young, the family moved to Oshkosh, WI where she graduated from high school in 1952.

She moved to Alexandria, MN a few years later to live with her sister, Lorna. She started work at Douglas County Hospital and soon after that she met her future husband, Clifford H. (Buzz) Morse Jr.

They were married in July of 1957 and remained in Alexandria where they had their first child, Jeffrey. In 1960 their second child, Scott was born in Alexandria. Shortly after that they moved to Bloomington, MN. They purchased their first house in 1961 and their third child, Shari was born in 1963.

Irene started her journey into sewing in 1966 and her first workroom was a basement floor. She loved to sew and make draperies and this was to be her life’s passion and occupation for the next 50 years.

In the summer of 1969 the family moved back to Alexandria and Irene decided to start her own drapery business and work out of the basement. She went from store-to-store advertising her business and soon was busy sewing drapes for families and businesses in and around the Alexandria area. The business grew so much she hired help.

Her business would continue to grow and evolve over the next 40 plus years with much of that business coming from return customers. After 50 years of doing the job she loved, she decided to unplug her machines.

Irene passed away after years of struggling with COPD and passed quietly in her sleep with family in her presence.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Clifford and son, Scott. She is survived by a sister, Lorna and children, Jeff Morse of Alexandria, MN, Shari Coty (Mike) of Radcliff, KY: grandchildren, Zachary Coty of New Albany, IN, Jessica O’Connor (Ian) of New Albany, IN, LT Jacob Coty stationed at Fort Benning, GA, and Isaac Coty of Radcliff, KY.

She will be greatly missed.