Rhonda Lee Szabo, daughter of Ronald John "Ronnie" (1937-1982) and Judith (?) Szabo, was born 3 December 1960, Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  Rhonda's father was killed in a tragic boating accident 25 July 1982 on Long Lake, Washburn County, Wisconsin.

Rhonda graduated in 1979 from Okemos High School and furthered her education at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  Rhonda married Tyge Edward Irskens II, 27 June 1987, California.

Rhonda and Tyge moved to Johnson County, Indiana.  They had 3 children and celebrated 12 years of marriage.  Tyge, born 25 June 1963, California, died at age 36, 26 June 2000.  Rhonda continued to raise the children, was employed by the local public school system and was active with her church, Greenwood Christian Church.

Rhonda succumbed, after an 8 year battle, to colon cancer 29 July 2013, Greenwood, Johnson County, Indiana.  She was interred beside Tyge in Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood.  The tombstone was engraved with the Scripture reference; Proverbs 3:5-6. 

The Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana) Wednesday 31 July 2013

RHONDA LEE IRSKENS

Rhonda Lee (Szabo) Irskens, 52, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 20, 2013 at her residence in Greenwood surrounded by her family and friends.

Rhonda was born Dec. 3, 1960, in Lafayette.  She married Tyge Edward Irskens on June 27, 1987, in California.

She graduated from Okemos high School, class of 1979, in Michigan.  She continued her education, graduating from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication.  She was a certified teacher of English as a second language.

She was a teacher's assistant at Maple Grove and Sugar Grove elementary schools.  Recently, she was an instructional assistant at Clark-Pleasant Intermediate School.

Rhonda was very involved in Relay for Life in Johnson County and Bible study fellowship.  She was an active member at Greenwood Christian Church, where she loved to sing and praise God.

She was very proud of her children; they were her inspiration in life.

She loved the Lord, her Savior, that was her passion.  Proverbs 3:5-6 was her life verse.

Survivors include her parents, Judith and Donald Brand of Florida; three children, Elisa, Seth and Nate Irskens of Greenwood; two brothers, Garry (Leah) Szabo of Oklahoma and Donald (Anne) Brand Jr. of Michigan; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and a large supportive community of Christian friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald J. Szabo; her husband, Tyge E. Irskens; and a brother, Charles Brand.