Irene Grandma Clown Louise Brauer Varner

She was born in Thompson Falls, Montana, on October 4, 1918, to Mary and John Henry Brauer. She married her husband, Ed in 1940 in Montana and moved to Seattle in 1952. They resided there for most of the next 60 years. She is survived by four children: Terry (Sandy) Varner, Mary (Duane) Quande, Sueann (Jay) Hopper, and Chuck (Lisa) Varner. Grandchildren, Rick (Tracey) Trout and Jami (Pat) Hanulik, great-grandchildren, DJ Trout and Riley and Makena Hanulik, and many nieces, nephews, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Varner and 12 siblings. Irene retired after 30 years with Boeing in 1985. She loved to boat and visit with her family, play bingo and take trips to Reno with friends and family. She was a wonderful and fun Mom and will be missed very much. Services will be held at Yarington’s Funeral Home in White Center on Wed., Jan. 16th at 3:00 p.m. The family suggests remembrances be sent to Highline Home Health and Hospice, 12844 Military Road S., Tukwila, WA 98168 or Highline Medic One, Burien Fire Department.

The following is a poem that was written for Mommy's 75th birthday party. We are not sure of the original author but it was either Nancy Connolly, her sister Pam or her niece Jessica, probably a combination of all of them.

75 year young - yes that's Irene

Her childrens best friend, Duanes worst dream.

Stubborn, independent, mouthy yet kind,

No Alzeimers here, she knows her own mind

Mother, Grandmother, counselor and friend;

Dogsits and works puzzels, when there's no hall to attend.

Yes Bingo's her game, will play till she wins,

But what can you expect from a woman OLDER THAN DIRT.

4 children she raised, grandkids to expect,

3 out of 4 gave her none---no regret.

Rick & Jami excell all her dreams,

They're brilliant and talented - must not be the genes.

She'll take off and travel Uncle Harvey in tow;

When she'll be home - you never know.

When summer arrives, heading North on the boat;

Duane says "NO GRANDMA CLOWN" or we'll never float.

He argues every year - to no avail

Says two women on board all sanity pales.

But Jessica pleads "Duane don't I rate?"

The cruise is nothing without "BUNK BUDDY"

So crabbing and fishing away they all go,

The women in charge - with Duane & Wesley in tow.

Fiestas to plan - Party night's a blast

The highlight will be the Dingy parade.

Yes GRANDMA CLOWN has really been around

75 years young and still fairly sound.

Too busy for illness, a tough old dame,

No time to slow down - who'll pick on Duane??

All kidding aside, we love you Irene

Though occasionally you do make us all scream.

So just keep being you, gentle yet curt;

That's all we want from our favorite women "OLDER THAN DIRT"

MOMMY'S FAMILY TREE

Parents:

John Henry Brauer (father) - 2/5/1870

Mary Helena Ames (mother) - 8/2/1882, married 5/8/1901

Siblings:

Clara Alice - 1/24/02

John Steward Brill - 6/2/??, married 5/8/39

Linnie Elizabeth - 10/4/04

Ross C. Gray - 3/17/??, married 2/17/26

Children - James C - 1/2/27, Budd - 6/27/30, Helen Lenore - 2/16/33

John William - 7/20/07

Averal N. Decker - 7/27/17, married 6/1/39

Children - Sherrill Rae 1/30/41, Carl Williams - 10/22/43

Dorthey Johanna - 9/9/08

Hurbert G. Kurz - 9/13/03, married 10/19/38

George Henry Brauer - 1/3/10 (named changed by adoption William George West)

Ida E. Neumiller - 7/23/??, married 9/22/40

Children - Ruth Ann - 12/19/41, Fred Carl - 4/20/43

Carl Albert - 1/4/11, Died 2/5/36

Arthur Ames - 4/1/14

Jessie Milhausen - 4/23/15, married 11/10/39

Ernest Roger - 8/5/15

Ruth E. Neumiller - 9/27/??, married 4/6/39

Children - Gale Elizabeth - 1/27/42, David Harvey (Butch) - 10/14/43, Barbara Jean - 9/13/47

Mary Cecilia - 6/15/17

John F. Casey - 6/27/??, married 5/18/43

Childre - Mary Martina - 3/30/46

Irene Louise - 10/5/18

Edward C. Varner - 7/11/16, married 6/7/40

Children - Terry Floyd - 11/20/42, Mary Catherine 7/6/44, Sueann - 3/7/47, Edward Charles - 7/20/49

Harvey Wayne - 7/27/21

Edna Mae - 10/13/23

William E. Bodaly - ? - married 5/8/47

Children - William E. - 7/17/48, Robert John - 9/2/49, Dorthy Jean - 9/1/51

Vera - 11/11/26 died 11/14/26

The following is the information Irene provided when Daddy passed away, it is some history about how our parents met and some of Dad's history.

Edward Charles Varner, born in Baker Montana, July 10, 1916 to Edward and Melissa Varner. The youngest son in a family of 9 children. His father died when he was 14. He stayed with his mother on the ranch until grasshoppers wiped out their crops. He gave up the idea of being a farmer, gave the ranch to his older brother and left home to seek his fortune.

His first stop was at Fort Peck Montana, he worked on the Fort Peck Dam until is was finished. There being no other rewarding jobs available he joined the ranks of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He entrained at Miles City Montana to go to California. The train dropped him off at a small town in Western Montana called Thompson Falls. There his whole life was to change and the begining of his fortune.

Approximately one year later he met Irene Brauer, who was with a church group who were entertaining at the camp on a Sunday evening. Two years later there were married on June 7, 1940. They were united on a rustic bridge over the beautiful Thompson River, a short distance from camp.

On December 7, 1941 Japan declared war on the United States. Being physically unable to do his part for the military, he and a very close friend, Jack Bussell decided to go to California to work in the aircraft industry. They left Thompson Falls and their wives in a less than new car for the beautiful state of California. They planned to stop in Seattle for an overnight stay and to fix the car for the rest of the trip. They stayed with his sister and brother-in-law and while there were told that the Boeing Company was hiring. They both got jobs and started their careers in Seattle.

Irene joined him and November 20, 1942 his first child was born, a son, Terry. Two years later he was joined by a sister, Mary, born on July 6, 1944.

When the war was over and Boeing closed their doors for the transition to peace time, he returned with his family to Thompson Falls, leaving the family cat and many of Terry & Mary's tears with good friends. He went to work for Flodian Lumber Company. On March 7, 1947, Terry and Mary were joined by Sueann, which added some problems, but he was assured he could cope and with help he did very well. With the long cold winters and hot summers, on July 20, 1949, Edward Charles Varner Jr. (Chuck) joined the family which was to hearld the last of his little clan, he knew his troubles were just begining.

He then decided Seattle was ready for him again so in 1952 he took himself and his family back to Seattle and the Boeing Company. While with Boeing he was given the opportunity to join the Boeing Clown Club, a group he devoted the remainder of his life to. He was a supervisor for 14 years. In 1969 he left supervision, by request, returned to the working line where he remained until his retirement on July 1, 1978. He gave 29 1/2 years of his life to his job but he gave 41 1/2 beautiful years to his wife and family. His greatest love was camping, hunting and fishing with his friends.

Perhaps the happest time of his life began when on December 16, 1966, he was rewarded with his first grandson, Richard Kelly Trout, who at birth looked very much like his grandfather but fortunatly the Lord took a hand and straightened his hair and he is now a handsome boy and his grandfathers pride.

On September 19, 1969, Rick was joined by a beautiful baby sister, Jami Sue. Ed soon found that he could not dicipline her any better than he did her mother, Sueann. During these years Irene was the heavy, smiles didn't weaken her as much as they did him.

Ed's life revolved around his children and grandchildren, he felt their pains, disappointments and joys as much as they did. He gave much of his life to others, asking very little in return.

A friend of his was a friend for life.

Passed away on December 23, 1981

DADDY'S FAMILY TREE:

Parents:

Edward Charles Varner - 1/26/1870, Buffalo, Wright, Minnesota

Married 8/29/1894, Montross, Minnesota

Died 12/18/28, Warm Springs, Montana

Buried, Baker, Montana, Fallon Co.

Melissa Catherine Stevens - 8/7/1876, Pine Grove, Wetzal, West Virginia

Died 12/28/43, Baker, Fallon, Montana

Buried, Baker Fallon Montana

Siblings:

Ella Florence - 1/22/1896 - Died 11/28/70

Leland Sanford Stroud - married 5/25/15

Mayme Leota - 1/30/1898 - Died 1/18/37

Everett Sleet - married 5/20/18

Josie Gertrude - 8/8/1899 - Died 2/28/49

Pete Shiskowsky - married 12/3/21

William Jacob - 4/23/01 - Died 2/8/47

Annetta Grow - married 10/12/34

Reuel Robert - 3/30/03 - Died 11/24/57

Marguerite Crawford - married 10/12/34

Edna Katherine - 12/2/05 - Died 1985

Gaius Eugene Skidmore - married 6/7/27

Melvine Everette - 10/2/07 - Died 10/17/68

Rose Loren - Married 10/15/35

Preston Wilson - 1/11/10 - Died 8/8/59

Selma Goroski - Married 6/12/34