Irene Isabelle Brainard 1923-2006

EWING, BRAINARD, KELLY, SEEHAFER, BOWERS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/26/2006 at 19:17:28

Irene Brainard, 83

Irene Brainard, of Lansing, passed away Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, in Thornton Manor in Lansing. She was 83.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Schutte Funeral Home in Postville. The Reverend Lynn Groe officiated. Special music was provided by organist Joann Martins and the Pastor Lynn Groe and Linda Groe, who sang a duet. Inurnment was in the Postville Cemetery. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Irene Isabelle Brainard was born January 14, 1923, in Franklin Township, Allamakee County, near Luana, to Amos T. S. Brainard and Cora Ophelia (Ewing) Brainard.

She was baptized as an adult on February 25, 1993, into the Lutheran Faith, by the Reverend Lynn Groe. Irene received her education in the rural schools of Allamakee County and graduated from the Waukon High School, with a certificate in Normal Training so that she could teach in the rural schools. She also earned 46 hours of college credits at Luther and through correspondence in order to maintain her teaching certificate.

Irene taught in the rural schools from 1942 to 1944. She was employed in various factories in the Dubuque area from 1944 to 1948. She returned to Allamakee County where she again taught in the rural schools from 1949 to 1959. Irene was employed by the Fayette County Department of Social Services from 1959 to 1961, and transferred to Allamakee Department of Social Services, where she worked until her retirement in 1982. She moved to Waukon in November of 1989.

Irene was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Waukon, the Women of the ELCA, and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Kelly and her husband, Dick Kelly, of Chili, Wisc.; two grandchildren, Terry Allen (Jane) Kelly and Tessa Marie Kelly; and one step great granddaughter, Natalie Seehafer, all of Marshfield, Wisc. Also surviving is a sister, Alice Brainard, Lansing; three sisters-in-law, Nell Brainard, Luana, Margaret Brainard, Decorah, and Norma Jean Brainard, Luana; and one brother-in-law, Vincent Bowers, Waukon.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Adelbert Brainard, Forest and Vivian Brainard, Clarence Brainard, and Milo and Anita Brainard, and Charles, and one sister, Beulah Bowers.

Postville Herald-Leader, August 30, 2006