Ione Howe Louk

Ione Howe Louk has been lovingly described by friends as “the little short woman with a passion for learning….” Ione returned to college later in life to continue her formal education. She attended Austin Community College and after her husband’s retirement from Hormel in Austin, Minnesota the two of them moved to Mankato, where she continued at Mankato State University. Ione graduated in 1976 with a BS in Social Studies and Political Science, and a Women’s studies minor. She completed her Master’s degree in Continuing Education with an emphasis in women’s history in 1983, at the age of 71.

While pursuing her education at Mankato, Ione contributed invaluable energy and expertise in the task of formulating the Women’s Studies major, and her grassroots work led to the creation of the Women’s Center on campus. She was involved in many organizations including the League of Women Voters, of which she held the office of State President for two years, PTA, the United Fund, and Girl Scouts. She worked with her church as librarian, communion coordinator, and with Sunday school. She had active involvement with the Austin Library, the DFL Party, and in creating the Austin City Charter.

Ione loved music, particularly the opera. She was a patron of the Austin symphony and a long time subscriber to the Metropolitan opera and Minneapolis Orchestra. Ione always encouraged appreciation of music in her children, making music available, encouraging music lessons and attending many children’s concerts and practices. She was manager of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. Ione was a well-traveled woman whose voyages took her to such places as Russia, China, Yugaslavia, and Japan. She also visited Europe three times, lived in Mexico for three months and traveled all across the United States.

A tree was planted on campus in memory of Ione, with a plaque bearing her name.