Irene E. Althaus, 68, of Bluffton died at 8:44 p.m. June 2, 2012 at Bluffton Hospital. She was born Oct. 23, 1943 in Bluffton to Ambert and Edna Bower Basinger. On Jan. 20, 1967 she married Jerry Althaus and he survives.

Mrs. Althaus retired from the Bluffton Public Schools where she was the Elementary School secretary for 25 years. She had also been a telephone operator for the Bluffton Telephone Co and had served on the Bluffton EMS. She was a member of the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton, a graduate of Bluffton High School and attended Bluffton College.

Survivors also include two sons, Andrew (Danielle) Althaus, Daniel (Jennifer) Althaus and a granddaughter, Adelyn Althaus, all of Bluffton and three brothers, Richard (Marylin) Basinger of Bluffton, Frederick (Janice) Basinger of Lima and Thomas (Pamela) Basinger of Findlay.

A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton (originally scheduled for English Lutheran). Rev. Kevin Mohr will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. Monday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to English Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.