Inez A. Ahrens

Inez Annabelle Ahrens, age 87, of Bourbon, and formerly of Bland, passed away on March 9, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Washington.

She was born on April 15, 1937, in Bland, a daughter to the late Albert and Freda (Overstreet) Horstman.

Inez was a 1954 graduate and Valedictorian of Bland High School and a longtime member of the Zion Evangelical Church in Bland. Inez was raised on the family farm and enjoyed telling stories of reading by lamplight, when the farm got electricity, and other stories of her childhood to her family through the years.

In December of 1962, she was united in marriage to Robert Henry Ahrens and from this union, a daughter Debbie was born.

Inez was employed at Paramount Cap Company in Bourbon before retiring after more than 30 years of employment.

Inez enjoyed gardening, canning her vegetables, and raising house plants. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan and never missed a game if she could help it. As a younger woman, she lived in St. Louis and got to attend many opening day festivities. She loved catching fish at Rockys pond and especially eating them. Fried fish was her favorite and she would eat it every day if she could. Inez babysat for many families in the Bourbon area over the years and loved every child she sat for. She was kindhearted and willing to help out anyone in need. Above all, she loved the time spent with her family and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends.

Inez is survived by: one daughter, Debbie Rakes and her husband Charlie of Bourbon; two grandchildren, Robert “Robbie” Rakes of Bourbon and Abbie (Rakes) Lee and her husband Racell of Jefferson City; four great-grandchildren, Ella Rakes, Chase Rakes, Ava Rakes and Racell “Roe” Lee; five siblings, Minnie Jarvis of Bland, Albert Horstman Jr and his wife Marie of Bland, Fred Horstman and his wife Juanita of Troy, Georgia Mitchell and her husband Bob of Sullivan, and Marilyn Mounce and her husband Tom of Steelville as well as many, many nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents, Inez was preceded in death by four siblings, Infant Alberta Horstman, Hilda Maness, Randall Horstman, and Joyce McKinney.

A celebration of life will be held on April 5, 2025 at the Zion Evangelical Church in Bland from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with a service will follow at 1:00 pm.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Old Bland Cemetery.