Irene Christina Tibbs

Irene Christina (Rickel) Tibbs

Irene Christina (Rickel) Tibbs, 96, Topeka died Thursday, March 30, 2017, at her home. She was the daughter of Elmer Kern and Elizabeth (Guffey) Ent and was born December 18, 1920, on a farm near Hoyt, KS. Irene attended Hoyt High School. She liked to work outside on the farm with her dad. They lived on an Indian reservation. When she was young they lived one half mile from where the Indians had their Green Corn Dance. Irene and her brothers and some Indian neighbor kids would wade in the creek to where the dance was held. Irene married Chauncey Rickel. They had two children, Delores Reich of Spring Hill, KS and Dan Rickel of Topeka. Irene was a member of the Hoyt Baptist Church since a child. Irene was a member of a group that square danced riding horses. They traveled to county fairs in northeast Kansas to perform. Irene and her children rode horses a lot when the children were young. She joined the Women of the Moose in 1965 and was still a member. She also belonged to the Rebekah Lodge, joining in 1949, Lodge #54. Irene received a Past Noble Grand Assembly Degree. She still is a member. Irene's husband, Chauncey passed away in 1959. Irene worked at John Morel Co. for 2 years and worked in management at Hallmark Cards for 39 years, two of those years were at the Lawrence Plant. She did not want to miss work. During the 51 flood, she packed her suitcase and hired a man who had a small airplane to take her over the river so she could go to work. Irene married Edgar Tibbs in 1960. After they married and while she was still working at Hallmark, on weekends and after work they built their home doing all the work themselves. While working at Hallmark Cards, Irene and Ed wired forty two new homes, helped build four new homes and three workshops. Irene retired in 1986. Then Irene and Ed traveled in their motorhome. One of the trips was to the 86 Expo at Vancouver, Canada and on to 50 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska. They spent 22 years in the winter at their home in Mesa, AZ. Irene is survived by her son Dan (Joan) Rickel and her daughter Delores Reich. Her husband, Ed; 3 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; 7 brothers and sisters; and son-in-law Gene Reich.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 8, 2017, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka. Interment will be in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, Grove.

Irene will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Friday, April 7th, at the funeral chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hoyt, 109 Highland Avenue, Hoyt, KS 66440.