Irene J. Pierce

Irene J. Pierce, 88, of Onalaska, Wis., died Friday, September, 26, 2014, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center, La Crosse, Wis. She was born in La Crosse, Wis., on July 16, 1926, to Ferdinand and Ruth (Granke) Roth. She married Charles H. Pierce on May 6, 1947, at St. Johns Catholic Church, La Crosse, Wis.

Irene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a friend to everyone she knew and met.  She had a special place in her heart for her son-in-laws.

She is survived by her daughters; Ruthmary (Ed) Priebe of Onalaska, Madonna (Dennis) Gilbertson of Mindoro, Pamela (David) Nehring of Blair, Louann (George) Pierce Keane of Onalaska, Beth (David) Sorenson of Reedsburg, Carmen (Rory) Peters of Chaseburg, and one son-in-law Bob (Judy) Vick of West Salem, 23 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, four sister-in-laws; Charlotte Nesseth and Dorothy Roesler of La Crosse, Dorothy Pierce of Onalaska, and Nancy Roth of Holmen. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Feb. 12, 2002, her daughter Charlene Vick, a great grandson, three sisters and one brother.

A private family Mass will be held in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Onalaska, Wis. with entombment to be held in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, Wis. Family and friends are welcome gather for a lunch and time of remembrance to celebrate Irene’s life from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in the Struck-Klanrud Post 336 Onalaska American Legion, 731 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, Wis.