God called Irene Martha Louise (Dieck) Brady, 103, of Oshkosh, and formerly of Tigerton, home on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at her home at the Waterford at Oshkosh.
Irene was born on Jan. 10, 1912, in the town of Dupont to William and Mary (Fuhrman) Dieck. She was united in marriage on Nov. 9, 1933, to Patrick James Brady at St. Anthony’s Church in Tigerton, and they were married for 74 years. In 1940, they moved into the farm home they built on County Road J outside of Tigerton where Irene lived for 69 years. In September 2009, she moved to the Camelot Apartments in Marion, where she celebrated her 100th birthday and took care of herself until moving into assisted living to be near her family.
Irene grew up on her parents’ farm, located just outside of Marion on County Road G. Her mother, Mary, also lived to be 100 years old. Her grandparents were August and Louise (Schumann) Dieck, who lived in Marion, and Gustav and Bertha (Wetzel) Fuhrman, who built their farm west of Tigerton. All of Irene’s grandparents were early immigrants to the Marion and Tigerton area.
Irene and her husband, Pat, farmed on 80 acres and grew a large variety of vegetables and fruits. They had cows, pigs, chickens and a team of horses. In her younger years, she enjoyed farming, gardening, baking, canning, embroidering, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Her husband preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 2008.
Irene is survived by a daughter, Yvonne Hoffman, of Oshkosh, and a son-in-law, James (Cathy) Tratz, of Oshkosh. There are eight grandchildren: Mary (Charles) Eichinger, Mark (Debbie Lux) Hoffman, Patrick (Jennie) Tratz, Tamara (Lee) Meidl, Michael (Laura) Hoffman, Cheryl (Dave) Schiavone, Brian (Crystal) Tratz and Matthew (Bev) Hoffman. There are 15 great-grandchildren: Carla Eichinger, Eric Noll, Kevin Eichinger, Lauren (Meidl) Bushman, Dominic Schiavone, Lindsay Tratz, Brooke (Meidl) Neubauer, Marissa Tratz, Brady Hoffman, Alex Hoffman, Andrew Hoffman, Erin Hoffman, Danielle Tratz, Jacob Hoffman and Shawn Hoffman.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick; two daughters, Sharon Tratz and infant Ruth; three siblings, Harold (Jean) Dieck, Clarence (Pearl) Dieck and Nettie (Emory) Brandenburg; and a son-in-law, Frank L. Hoffman.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Tigerton. The Rev. Patrick Lloyd will officiate, and burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Tigerton. Friends may call on Friday from 9 a.m. until time of Mass at the church.
The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton, is assisting the family.
