No headline

Irene Lillian Shipley, 93

Irene Lillian Shipley, wife of Dr. Richard Edwin Shipley, passed away Oct. 4, 2017, at 1 a.m. Irene was born in Rockford, Ill., on Nov. 18, 1923. Her parents were Ivan and Jenny Lutzhoff. Ivan was born a native of Denmark (although his ancestry is Swedish), and Jenny a native born of Norway.

Richard and Irene met young and married on June 16, 1945. Richard became a medical doctor (and eventually a cardiologist) and Irene a nurse. By the time they had three children and lived in Detroit, Mich., Richard had become a naval officer (Lt. Commander) and moved his family to San Francisco. There at the shipyard, Irene had their fourth daughter. Growing up years for the family included a wide education in music (piano was studied by all four daughters; both Richard and Irene were pianists in their own right). Both Richard and Irene believed in a variety of family experiences: the Opera house was visited frequently for opera, drama, solo artists on piano, cello, guitar, as well as symphonies, museums and many others.

Richard and Irene traveled extensively in Europe, Africa and Asia. Richard and Irene spent many of their years in a beautiful home in Hillsborough, Calif., where they lived since the early 1970s. Together they worked a successful cardiology group in San Mateo until they both retired.

Irene was married to her loving husband 72 years (1945 to 2017). They hardly ever were apart. Irene was known as “Chickie” most her life, a nickname her mother had bestowed on her. Richard was also lovingly known as “Dick.” Together they were Chickie and Dick, as all their family, friends and even acquaintances knew them by.

Irene and Richard are survived by their four daughters: Barbara Elaine, Wendy Joan, Susan and Jody Anne. They have five grandchildren: Jenny Tyner and John Shipley (children of Barbara Elaine Shipley); and William Thomas, Robert James and Elizabeth Marie (children of Jody Anne Shipley and William Paul Altmiller). They have three great-grandchildren: Gabriel Tyner, Lyra Irene Tyner (children of Ben and Jenny Tyner) and Jasmine Isabel (child of Robert and Mary Altmiller).

Richard passed away July 8, 2017, and is buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Irene will be buried next to him at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, with a graveside service followed by a memorial service at Yates Funeral Homes, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

Please visit Irene’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

So now Richard and Irene Shipley, “Dick and Chickie” shall rest side by side in peace. God grant them eternal life and joy forever. Amen.