Irene Welge

CHESTER, Ill. -- Irene Welge, 86, of Chester passed away Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at Memorial Hospital in Chester.

She was born May 17, 1920, in Potter, Neb., daughter of Theodore and Golda Wills Buck. She and William O. Welge were married Aug. 30, 1941, in Chester. He preceded her in death Dec. 21, 1987.

Irene and her husband owned and operated Three Springs Lodge Nursing Home in Chester. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Chester Women's Club, and was a former member of home extension.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary Ann Cleiman, Virginia (Ken) Rowold and Susan (Bill) Krueger of Chester; a daughter-in-law, Ruth Ann Welge of Chester; two brothers, Marvin Buck of Chester, Gerald Buck of Anderson, Ind.; three grandchildren, Kelly (Keith) Hartmann, John (Robin) Rowold, Tracey (Shawn) Heuer; five great-grandchildren, Abby and Andrew Hartmann, Molly and Autumn Rowold and Nathan Heuer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Robert Welge; and a brother, Homer Buck.

Friends may call at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Chester from 7:30 a.m. to service time today.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at the funeral home, with the Revs. Mark Willig and Fred Campbell officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Chester.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church Debt Fund.