Irene Fanning

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Irene Mae Fanning, 92, of Miller, passed away, March 20, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society, Miller.

Funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 28, 2022, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller, Father Paul Josten, celebrant.  Burial will follow at the St. Ann's Cemetery, Miller.  A rosary and prayer service will begin at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the church.

Irene was the third of sixteen children born to Rupert H. and Mary K. (Lambertz) Beaner on September 16, 1929.  She was born in the old Miller Hospital, above the grocery Store on the corner of Main Street and Third Street. Irene was baptized by Father Schilling at the St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

She spent her entire life living in St. Lawrence, Hand County. She attended eight years of grade school at Rosedale Rural Country School in York Township. Irene completed her freshman year in Dolton, South Dakota, living with her maternal grandparents. She finished the rest of her schooling at St. Lawrence public school. 

She married Jack D. Fanning on December 30, 1947, this marriage blessed them with eight children: one daughter and seven sons.

They made their home in St. Lawrence for twenty years, then five years on the farm then back into St. Lawrence.  Irene enjoyed reading, traveling, cooking, baking, sewing, and collecting cookbooks. She especially loved making casseroles and trying new recipes. She often said she could read a cookbook like a novel.

Irene is survived by four sons and their wives: John (Penny), Gerald (Bobbi), Jeffrey (Sherry) and Randy (Teresa); one son-in-law, James (Victoria) Gentile; one daughter-in-law, Bobi Wagner Fanning;  17 grandchildren: James Gentile, Jr,, Brett Gentile, Heath Fanning, Quentin Fanning, Blaine Fanning, Brandy Fanning, Bobbi Joe Peterson, Jesse Fanning, Jacki Dawson, Derek Fanning, Jack Fanning, Katrina Damon, Matthew Fanning, Brittany Rihanek, Eric Fanning, Rhett Wagner and Camrynn Wagner; 35 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren;  five sisters: Ramona Lewis, Sandra Knudtson, Diann Knight, Mary Ann Butler and Ellen Rook; two brothers: James and Charles; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, daughter, Marlene in 2006; sons: Michael in 1964, Joel in 1973 and Jay in 2015; one granddaughter, Sara; her parents; in-laws; four brothers: Donald, Roger, Lloyd, and Richard; and four sisters: Donna Eschenbaum, Charlotte Molander, Linda Terbell and Rita Tibbitts.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Irene's arrangements.