Arley C. Ihrke

HOUSTON, MN - Arley C. Ihrke, 77, of Houston, MN died on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Valley View Healthcare and Rehab in Houston.
Arley Carl Ihrke was born on December 20, 1938, in Quincy Township of Olmsted County, MN to Gustav and Clara (Schuchard) Ihrke. He was a 1956 graduate of St. Charles High School. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1957 to 1959. Arley graduated from Winona State College in 1963, where he was named to the Winona State Athletic Hall of Fame and was on the All Century Team for football. He was united in marriage with Mary Rohr on August 31, 1963. Arley received his Masters of Science degree from Winona State in 1970. Arley taught at Houston High School all of his career. He was also the athletic director at Houston for 28 years. Arley was into all things sports. He coached many sports in Houston, and served a long tenure as the head football coach. Many respectfully referred to him as "Coach" when they greeted him. He was in the Minnesota Athletic Directors' Hall of Fame, Houston Fire Department for 20 years serving several as chief, Charter Member of the Houston Ambulance Service, Houston American Legion, and the Booster Club. Arley played in many country and western bands including: Uncle Arley's Band, The Country Touch and the Mellotones. He had a passion for hunting and fishing and passed that on to his sons and grandchildren.
Arley is survived by his wife, Mary; three sons: Bill (Liz) Ihrke of Plainview, MN, Brian (Rhonda) Ihrke of Mendota Heights, MN, and Craig (Jennifer) Ihrke of Chatfield, MN; eight grandchildren: Jack, Dean, Jacob, Joey, Megan, Ben, Katie, and Luke; six siblings: Delmer (Mary Jane) Ihrke, Leola Hinckley, Gene (Fern) Ihrke, Gus (Marilyn) Ihrke, Shirley (Bill) Loppnow, and Lorry (Irvin) Hohmann; and by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Beryl, George (Marge), Ellsworth (Frances), Melvin, Robert (Ruby), Vernon (Yvonne), Joy (Allan), Elaine (Dick); brother-in-laws, Archie Zarling and Robert Hinckley; and by seven nieces and nephews: John, Carol, Steve, Bernard, Joanne, Kathy, and Brian.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Arley at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Houston with the Rev. Pratap Reddy officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church and also one hour prior to the Mass on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Little Valley Cemetery, south of Plainview, MN.
Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston is assisting the family with arrangements.
Leave a memory of Arley and sign his online guestbook atwww.hofffuneral.com