Irma Lovegrove, 95

Irma Ruth Snyder Lovegrove was born July 14, 1928, to Roy and Velna (Clark) Snyder at Page, NE. She grew up on a farm with her four siblings and attended country school at Page until 7th grade when the family moved to Ainsworth, NE and started the John Deere dealership, Snyder’s Inc.

Irma graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1945 and went on to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln to pursue elementary education. Her first teaching job took her to a 1st grade classroom at Holdrege, NE, and during that time she met and married Billy Carlson. He later died in a car accident, and Irma eventually moved to North Platte, NE, to teach 1st grade. There she became acquainted with a young state patrolman, Duane Lovegrove, and they soon married. In 1961 they moved to Ainsworth and raised their four children, Nancy, Sherry, Kathy and Alan, on 11 acres at the edge of town. Duane farmed and Irma settled into life as a full-time mother and homemaker, occasionally doing some substitute teaching. She raised an abundant garden and did canning, cooking and baking. She was involved with her children’s activities, bridge clubs, Methodist Church Circle, Junior Women’s Club, Crazy Coffee Club, bowling, walking, bike riding and going along to listen to Duane entertain with his music around the area.

In 1982, Irma and Duane decided on a new adventure and moved to the Verde Valley of Arizona. They lived in Cottonwood for the next 41 years, but continued driving back to Ainsworth three or four times each year to see the grandkids and spend fun times with friends and family in the area. In addition to the Nebraska trips, they toured many other states and took in 40 elderhostel classes around the country. Another fun hobby for them in later life became motorcycling around Arizona and surrounding states with a group of friends. Irma enjoyed walking to the rec center and participating in exercise classes well into her 90’s.

Irma passed away peacefully at home in Cottonwood, AZ, on March 1, 2024, at age 95. She chose to donate her body to Science Care and requested no formal services.

Survivors include her husband, Duane; three daughters, Nancy Eppenbach, Sherry (Calvin) Goochey and Kathy Post; one daughter-in-law, Brenda Lovegrove; two brothers, Jim (Becky) and Dwight Snyder; 12 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, her parents, her son Alan, her two sisters, a great-grandson and several in-laws.