Irene C. Fankhauser

1927 - 2024

Irene C. Fankhauser

January 25, 1927 - July 4, 2024

Irene Caroline Fankhauser (Russell) was born on January 25, 1927, to Sylvan I. and Lillian E. (Koester) Russell in Pawnee City, NE. Her mother passed just two weeks after she was born and she was raised by her maternal grandparents Henry and Caroline Koester and aunt and uncle on a farm near DuBois, NE. At the age of 15 and after the death of her grandfather, aunt and uncle, her grandmother purchased a house in DuBois where they then relocated. Irene attended country school and DuBois High School where she graduated in 1944 at the age of 17. After graduation, and due to the war, she obtained an emergency teaching certificate from Peru State College and taught country school near DuBois.

Irene was married to Densel Dale Fankhauser, her high school sweetheart, on June 30, 1946 ,in DuBois at the home of her grandmother, Caroline Koester. In September of 1946 they moved to Lincoln where Densel enrolled in the College of Pharmacy at UNL. During that time, Irene worked at Banker's Life Insurance Company and the Elgin watch factory. After Densel's graduation, they returned to DuBois and opened a small drug store. During this time, daughters Charlotte and Janet were born. In 1957, they moved to Tecumseh where Densel began work at the Nachtigall drug store. At this this time, their youngest daughter, Carolyn, was born. In 1969, they purchased Chief Drug in Tecumseh where Irene worked for a time as bookkeeper.

She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ (Maple Grove) where she was active in the Women's Fellowship and played the organ and sang in the choir. Irene also played for weddings and funerals. She was a member of St. Leger Cowley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Lincoln, Nebraska, where she served as Chapter Regent, secretary and treasurer. Irene held the state office of Magazine Chairman. She was a member for over 50 years and enjoyed attending the annual DAR state conferences.

Irene was always interested in and supported her daughters' activities and served as a Girl Scout troop leader. She was an involved parent in school activities such as music, band, and Y-Teens and encouraged her daughters in 4-H with cooking, baking and sewing. After being diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 1980, Irene courageously fought the battle for nearly 20 years and went into remission after undergoing infusions for six months with a newly developed cancer medication.

She and Densel enjoyed attending plays at the Brownville Village Theatre in Brownville and served on the board of directors for several years. Irene and Densel were excited to become extras in the mini-series, AMERIKA, filmed in Tecumseh in 1987, and were instrumental in planning the AMERIKA days celebration. Irene enjoyed the outdoors and spent much of her time in her flower and vegetable gardens and harvesting fruit from their numerous fruit trees. She spent many summer and fall hours canning and freezing the produce. Irene loved the handwork of sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting and embroidery. After she and Densel retired in 1991, they traveled around the United States, Europe and Middle East. Growing up, their daughters always looked forward to the annual family vacations to different regions of the country.

Irene is remembered as a private, but caring, sensitive and generous woman with a subtle sense of humor and always enjoyed a great laugh. Her strength, courage and deep faith in God carried her throughout life's challenges. She passed away July 4, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, having reached the age of 97 years.

Because she was raised as an only child, family was very important to her. Surviving are her half-sister Marilyn Mohling (Robert), Broomfield, CO, three daughters, Charlotte Grof, Lincoln, Janet Stephenson, Fairmont, and Carolyn Coldwell (David), Bowling Green, KY, grandchildren, Scott Grof (Stacy), Lincoln, Susan Johnson (Chad), Federal Way, WA, Sarah Jazbec (Nate), Lincoln, Caroline Marciano (Christopher), Houston, TX and Cassandra Heath (Bryan), Lincoln, great-grandchildren Tyler and Nathan Grof, Koko, Norah, Merritt, Holland and Jewel Johnson, Masheala and Kaiden Maynez, Tayah Kephart, Kathryn and James Marciano and Eva and Laura Heath.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Densel, June 5, 2019) half-brother Howard Russell, infant twin daughter Cheryl Lynn born at rest, and son-in-law James Stephenson.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 8:00, with family greeting from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2024, at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh. Memorials may be sent to Irene Fankhauser Memorial in care of Janet Stephenson, 1604 Road F, Fairmont, NE 68354. Private family burial will be in the Frieden's U.C.C. Cemetery, rural Bern, KS, with Pastor Ken Tubbesing officiating. (www.wherrymortuary.com)