Irene E. Hemmesch

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Friday, December 2, 2016 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville for Irene E. Hemmesch, age 95, of Paynesville. Irene passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 27 at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville. Reverend Glenn Krystosek will officiate. Burial will take place in the St. Louis Parish Cemetery in Paynesville.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 1 and after 9:30 a.m. on Friday both at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville.

Irene Elizabeth Hemmesch was born August 25, 1921 near St. Martin, MN to the late Jacob and Mary (Schlangen) Schmitz. She married Paul Hemmesch on April 28, 1941 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin. They lived and farmed north of Paynesville for 50 years, retiring to Paynesville in 1991.

She was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church, St. Louis Christian Women, National Catholic Society of Foresters, and the Paynesville American Legion Auxiliary. Irene enjoyed quilting, crocheting, playing cards, gardening, fishing, cooking, baking, watching her MN Twins, and dancing with Paul.

Irene is survived by her children: Ken (Jane) – St Cloud, Donna Ahrens – Paynesville, LaVon Gustafson (Ray) – New London, Kevin (Mary) – Sauk Rapids, Bev (Patrick) – Minnetonka, Keith (Sandy) – Paynesville, Craig (Jody) – Elk River, Paula Jo (Brad) – Elk River, Kurt (Bonnie) – Cold Spring, and Kellan (Shelly) – Sartell, daughter-in-law Pat – Bloomington; 19 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; brother, Ben Schmitz, sister, Mary Ann (Rausch) Mikrot; sister-in-laws, Virginia Schmitz, Bernadette Schmitz, and Christine Hemmesch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul (June 08, 1997), son Con (Nov. 11, 2016), infant son Kernan (1954), son-in-laws Chuck Gustafson and Lew Ahrens, brothers, Christ, Linus, Elmer, Marvin, and Alvin; and sisters, Marcella Kollman, Miranda Hemmesch, and Alma Mathison.

She was proud to be a wife and mother and encouraged her children to seek higher education. She was extremely proud of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was greatly loved and will be dearly missed by her family.

A special thank you to the staffs at Washburne Court, Paynesville Hospital and the Koronis Manor for the excellent care she received.