Irma-Jean Kuehn, who preferred to be known as "IJ", a devoted servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, was born in Golden, Colorado on July 22, 1932, and entered into rest on December 3, 2014 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Harley and Lulu Mae Diltz. She married Wesley M Shoe on April 15, 1951 in Reno, Nevada, and from this marriage there were 2 children, Gary Wayne Shoe and Terri Lynne Harper.

IJ had 5 grandchildren, John Douglas Shoe, Galen Harris Shoe, Michael Joseph Metze (deceased), Joel Thomas Metze, and Kelly Marie Bond. There are currently 8 great-grandchildren, Owen Wesley Shoe, Emilia Kathleen Shoe, Benjamin Zev Shoe, Charlie Jane Metze, Wesley Robert Metze, Edith Rose Metze, Maria Renee Metze, and Cora Lynne Bond. There are 2 step-great-grandchildren, Matthew and Zoey. IJ's devoted daughter-in-law is Maureen C Shoe. Gerry Harper, deceased just a year ago, was IJ's tireless caregiver and son-in-law.

While raising 2 children and still working full and part time jobs, IJ earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and History and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Colorado in 1970. She taught Art at Everett and Carmody Jr High and Green Mountain High Schools in Jefferson County, Colorado. She inspired countless students to develop their creative skills and expressiveness, some of whom became professional artists. She also served as a Political Actions Committee leader for the Jefferson County Education Association and participated as a volunteer for multiple political candidates of the Democratic Party.

IJ married Herb Kuehn on the first day of spring in 1981, and they resided in the mountains west of Golden in a custom earth-bermed home that they built to reflect the architectural aesthetics of Santa Fe, NM. They relocated to San Miguel De Allende, Guanojuato, Mexico in 1989. There they enjoyed an enchanted life in Mexico's premier center of fine and performing arts. In between their ongoing participation in a number of charitable and humanitarian causes for young and old alike, they took trips to Greece, Turkey, and Israel. Upon Herb's passing in 1993, IJ surprised everyone by digging deeper roots in the old colonial city and built a rambling estate complete with art studios, gardens, and brick bodegas (arched ceilings), blending her own architectural sensibilities with those of the Mexican Maestros.

In 2000, IJ came back to Colorado to receive treatments and convalesce from breast cancer. Thereafter, she returned annually for checkups and visits with her growing family. She also squeezed in trips to Africa, several European countries, Russia, China, and cruises to Panama, Costa Rica, and the many countries along the Danube River.

In 2005, cancer free, but sensing the approach of her declining years, she happily re-united with her daughter, Terri, on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was more than adequate compensation for having to leave her beloved home in San Miguel, to be beside her Ocean, a place she'd always yearned for all of her life.

Throughout her retiring years, IJ continued to teach art, from the gifted students at the Instituto Allende, to the youth at the Seventh Day Adventist church in Hilo, Hawaii; where she and the children created a beautiful mural.

In 2010, IJ broke her hip and subsequently suffered a series of strokes, after which she remained bedridden. Though diminished in so many ways from her former self, her grace and sense of humor remained preserved until the end and endeared many a care giver to her.