Obituary: Irene B. (Hefty) Wheeler

OREGON - Irene B. Wheeler, age 96, died peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007. She was born on June 3, 1911, in New Glarus. Irene graduated from Madison Central High School. She and her husband, Earl Wheeler moved to Oregon in 1941, where she resided until the last few years. Irene currently lived at Attic Angels Place in Middleton. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Oregon and served as an elder of the church and past president of the Ladies Guild. Irene served the village of Oregon for many years as an elections clerk. She was a member of Oregon Chapter 49, Order of Eastern Star, serving both as matron and trustee. Irene was also a member of Town and Country Women's Club, Oregon Historical Society, Friends of the Library, Stoughton Country Club, as well as several bridge and 500 clubs. She loved to travel and also enjoyed an occasional casino trip. Most of all, Irene loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, Lori, Janna, Julie, Marcus, Jason and Melissa; and great-grandchildren, Megan, John, Erin, Leslie, Cody, Marley, Brooke, MacKenzie, Olivia, Maxwell, Emily and Soslan. She was very proud of all their accomplishments and had fond memories of their joyful times together. Irene will be deeply missed by her son, Donn of Stoughton; daughter, Barbara (James) Hamilton of Westfield; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; brother, Willard Hefty; daughter-in-law, Virginia Wheeler; and great-grandson, Jamie Hamilton. Funeral services will be held at FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 172 N. Main St., Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, with the Rev. Clara Thompson presiding. Burial will be at Prairie Mound Cemetery, Oregon. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 431 Soden Drive, Oregon from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., with an Order of Easter Star service at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. Memorials may be made in Irene's name to First Presbyterian Church-Oregon Building Fund. Gunderson Oregon Funeral and Cremation Centers 431 Soden Drive (608)

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 22, 2007