Irene Gertrude Mcgeary
August 3, 1924 — May 5, 2019
In 1943 during the war, she worked as the ration gasoline clerk of Pope County in Glenwood and later in 1945 worked as a price contract clerk of Chippewa County in Montevideo. On September 24, 1946, Irene was united in marriage to Austin McGeary at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Clontarf, Minnesota by Father Larkin. Austin and Irene were blessed with over 65 years of marriage. She said the biggest thrill of their lives was being able to adopt four children. Austin and Irene farmed in Marysland Township for forty years then moved into Danvers.
Irene was an active member of the Church of the Visitation where she served on the Church Council, Church Lay Minister, Lector, sewed the Priest’s vestments, and was awarded the Bishop’s medal for her service. She served as President of the Senior Citizens and was a member of the Benson Golf Club and the VFW auxiliary. Irene enjoyed oil painting, sewing, dancing, golf, crafts, gardening, playing cards, and visiting with her family and friends. She was very creative in recreating almost any craft, including sewing a prom dress for Colleen that matched a very expensive one sold in a Willmar dress shop. Irene spent many hours working in her garden and was very proud of her gardens both on the farm and at their home in Danvers. Equal to her love for her gardening, she loved to get together with her friends, painting and visiting for hours at a time. She turned their porch in town into her art gallery and painted over 100 paintings during her life. Irene joined her Savior on Sunday morning, May 5, 2019 at the Scandia Haven Village in Benson. She was blessed to live with us for 94 years, 9 months, and 2 days.
Irene is survived by her children: Collette (Tom) Garrity of Jersey City, New Jersey, Colleen (Steve) Larson of The Villages, Florida, Kevin (Jane) McGeary of East Bethel, and Tony (Sue) McGeary of Eagan; 9 grandchildren: Nick McGeary, Mark (Cassie) Larson, Kristen (Doug) Larson, Christopher McGeary, Allison Garrity, Connor McGeary, Marie McGeary, Kira McGeary, and Kaitlin McGeary; 4 great-grandchildren: Lilly Star McGeary, Wendy Ritter, Shelby Larson, and Sydney Larson; and several other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Austin on December 1, 2011; parents, Peter and Mary Ann Banken; brothers: Ted, Floris, Paul, Ray, and Frank Banken; a sister Mary Jane McGeary; and two grandchildren, Andrew McGeary and Ashley McGeary.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Friday, May 10, 2019
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson
Saturday, May 11, 2019
10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Church of the Visitation in Danvers
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Church of the Visitation in Danvers
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Starts at 12:15 pm (Central time)
Church of the Visitation Catholic Cemetery
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