Irene Anna Wymore slipped softly through the veil to return to her Heavenly Father, loving family, and friends on December 10, 2014, just shy of her 95th birthday, due to complications from lung cancer. Born at home on the family farm near Martinsville, Dane County, WI December 22, 1919, she had the strong German Catholic work ethic deeply instilled in her life.

Military service for her husband took her to Southern California where she lived for 60 years. Restaurant work as a waitress in an upscale restaurant began a career around food. She purchased a café which she owned for a number of years, and later in life provided private catering services. Preparing food was a joy for her, and she did it frequently until a few weeks ago.


She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy, parents Jacob and Regina Niesen, sisters Frances (Henry) Zander, Rosina (Vincent) Runnoe, Marcella (Clarence) Johnston, Beatrice (Henry) Brunner; and her brother Lawrence (Helen) Niesen.

She is survived by her younger sister, Helen (George) Dresen, with whom she spent many happy times, especially playing cards. Nieces and nephews were actively involved in her life, and she and Jimmy blessed many of them with their generosity over the years, in lieu of the children she never had.

Active until the end, she played in several card groups and at the Waunakee and Middleton Senior Centers. She enjoyed her outings to Ho Chunk, especially with her special girlfriend, Geraldine Pelanek. A resident of Orange County, CA for 60 years, she returned to WI 5 years ago on the invitation of her niece and husband, Carol and Reg Christensen, to live with them, after suffering a broken leg from a fall. She was a blessing to their lives, and they to hers.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Martinsville/Cross Plains. A visitation will be held starting at 9:00 am until time of service. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.