Irene Evelyn Mogk

On May 28, 2019, at the age of 90, our Mom peacefully took her long-awaited 'one-way trip' with family and a minister by her side at the St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Irene Evelyn Schramm was born on November 6, 1928, to Jacob and Katherine Schramm on their farm by Oakshela, Saskatchewan. While living at the family farm in the Baring district, Mom met our Dad, William Howard Mogk. After their wedding on December 7, 1951, in Grenfell, Saskatchewan, they started married life at Dad's family farm east of Glenavon, Saskatchewan. Their lives were filled with hard but rewarding work farming the land, milking cows, and raising pigs, chickens, and the holiday turkeys. Mom also took great pride in her bountiful garden and immaculate yard with lots of flowers, trees and very pampered grass. We three children, Verna, Wayne and Rhonda, remember our home being a gathering spot for family and neighbours alike. There was always a pot of coffee ready to brew ... food for the table ... a cold beer on a summer day ... or a deck of cards waiting by the cribbage board. With the arrival of winter, much of Mom and Dad's time was spent curling or watching it on TV. After Dad passed away in 1972, Mom and Rhonda moved to Glenavon into a trailer until the house Mom designed and had built was ready. Mom carried on her love of gardening there and took great pride in her beautiful yard. Mom also worked at the Co-op store in town for a few years. In 2012, Mom moved to Winnipeg to be with her children and long-awaited grandchildren. Mom rarely had idle hands and was always doing some kind of handiwork ... sewing clothes or quilts, upholstery, crocheting, knitting, or doing embroidery. Many hours were also spent doing jigsaw or crossword puzzles, listening to old-time music, or watching her Toronto Blue Jays and favourite curlers. While Mom's passion was working outside, the inside of her home often smelled of fresh-baked cinnamon buns, bread or buns. Mom often heard: "Irene, you have nice buns!" Irene will be missed always by her children, Verna, Wayne and Rhonda (Kevin Walsh), her precious grandchildren, Jazilyn and Jay Walsh, and Verna's step-daughter, Dana Atkinson. She also leaves behind her much-loved sisters, Ruth Yule, Bernice (John) Krokosh and Valma (Don) Lemon, and sisters-in-law Marjorie (Orvalle) and Jean (Gordon) Schramm. Also mourning her loss are her many beloved nephews and nieces who have lots of fond memories of Auntie Irene. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Howard; her parents, Jacob and Katherine Schramm; her step-mother, Herta Schramm; her brothers, Orvalle and Gordon Schramm; her sister-in-law, MaryAnn (Orvalle); brother-in-law, Cameron Yule (Ruth); and niece Janice Krokosh. The annual Glenavon Fair was always one of Mom's most favourite events. It signified a time for her kids, grandkids, other family, and friends to "come home". The town was bursting with community spirit which she so treasured. She loved the Lion's pancake breakfast, the parade, visiting friends at the fairgrounds, watching the ball games, collecting prizes for her gardening and handiwork entries, and the old-time dances they used to hold in the town hall. In that spirit, we are bringing Mom home for her last visit with friends and family for the weekend of the 2019 Glenavon Fair. The celebration of Mom's life will be held on Friday, July 26, at 11:00 am at the Glenavon United Church with Lynette Callfas officiating. Lunch by the UCW will follow. After enjoying the Fair and spending time swapping stories of Irene, we will be taking Mom to be with our Dad at Regina Memorial Gardens for an informal interment on Monday, July 29 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glenavon United Church or the Augustine United Church in Winnipeg. Many thanks to the doctors and staff of St. Boniface Hospital who gave Mom and our family such exceptional care and comfort in her final hours. Thanks also to the wonderful staff and home caregivers that looked after her and kept Mom laughing at Catherine's Place. A special thank you to Diane Gudmundson, NP on Wheels, for her respectful and gentle way with Mom which made her life so much more manageable. And, most of all, thanks to our Mom who always loved us no matter what, helped us however she could and instilled in us the true value of family. We miss you, Mom, and say 'hi' to Dad.