Irene ‘Rene’ McGee, 97

 

Sept. 23, 1920 —
Dec. 28, 2017
 
Cresco - Irene Alice McGee, age 97, died peacefully in her home on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Mayer Funeral Home in Austin, Minn. with Father James Steffes officiating. Friends may call one hour before the service. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, where Irene and husband Bernard will be laid to rest together forever, on the eve of their 71st anniversary.
Irene Alice Cummings was born Sept. 23, 1920, in Elma, Iowa to Francis Emmett and Mary Evelyn (Harris) Cummings. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school with her four sisters and six brothers. 
She met the love of her life, Bernard J. McGee, at a dance in Cresco, Iowa. Rene corresponded with Bernard during the years he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII, while she was working at a munitions factory in California and later at a company in Waterloo, Iowa. Bernard and Rene were married on May 6, 1947 in Cresco and moved to Austin, where Bernard pursued a career in carpentry, and Rene worked at the Canton Café. 
In June 1948 they welcomed their first born, James M. McGee and a short year later, their daughter, Susan in May 1949. Ann followed in December 1951 and Mary in December 1952.
Rene was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church. Along with the Canton Café, she also worked at the Austin Bowl. Rene was a member of the “Sewing Club” along with several friends and neighbors.
Survivors include her four children, James (Sheri) McGee, Susan Bothun and Ann McGee, all of Austin, and Mary Huemann of Albert Lea, Minn.; grandchildren, Carmen (Jeff) Weber of Menasha, Wis., Skot (Heide) McGee of Austin, Michael J. (Theresa) Merten and Kelly (Brian) Walton of Texas, Brad (Candice) Bothun of Annapolis, Md., and Lindsey (Kevin) Haney and Kelly and Ryan Lamont of Austin; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret Burkett of Cresco; and sisters-in-law, Diane Cummings of Iowa and Doris Cummings of McIntire, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Bernard J. McGee on Nov. 27, 2017; brothers, Donald (Bernetta), George, William (Agnes), Thomas, Richard (Marlene) and James Cummings; sisters, Marie (Dan) O’Neil, Geneva (Art) Peckham, Edna (Milton) Miller; brother-in-law, Marvin Burkett; McGee brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Leo (Olive), Paul (Angie), Emmett (Doris) and Dan McGee, Vera (Bennie) Ulwelling, Esther (Ben) Roberts, Rozella (Ruben) Skogeboe and Lucille (Clarence) Peterson; and sons-in-law, Peter Merten, Vaughn Bothun and Stan Coughlin.
Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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