Irene Eva Robertson

Irene Robertson, born April 16,1915in Milwaukee, WI toChristianand Emma (Landsee) Wiesen, died peacefully with her family present on December 9, 2012 at Independence Village in White Lake, MI. Irene graduated fromWestMilwaukeeHighSchool and attended Milwaukee State Teacher’s College. She was employed as an executive secretary at the Allis Chalmers Co. and became accomplished at shorthand, typing and grammar. Family finances kept her from realizing her dream of completingcollegeand becoming a classroom teacher, but she more than compensated with decades of teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, women’s groups and teens as wife and partner to her husband of 61 years, GeorgeWallace “Wally” Robertson, a Presbyterian minister, who predeceased her in 1999. Wally and Irene served churches throughout Wisconsin and Michigan as well as in Illinois and Florida and concluded their ministry at Peoples Church in E. Lansing where their portrait hangs in the parlor known as “The Robertson Room.” Wally and Irene were inveterate travelers and visited many parts of the world with friends and family.

Irenewas an avid tennis player, swimmer, walker and golfer. She made an annual swim across Silver Lake in Wisconsin where she and Wally vacationed and was even seen in Lake Michigan in her 90thyear!She was a volunteer at Sparrow Hospital inLansing, Michiganfor over 20 years.Irene loved to bake, knit and craftand her famous peanut pillows and coffee cakes were freely given to all she loved. In her later years she received excellent care from the staff of Independence Village, White Lake and from Amy Alley and AmandaDiop,kind and devoted caregivers who showed her daily love. Irene is survived by her children, David, Dick,and Mary Liz Robertson,and Ann Orwin,her sister Laverne Schmidt,as well as 8grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A service will be held at Independence Village in White Lake, MI on Friday, December 14 at 2:30 p.m. Interment of cremainswill take place at a later date at the Memorial Garden of Peoples Church inEastLansing, MI. The family is being served by the White Lake Chapel of Elton Black and Sons where remembrances of Irene may be shared at www.eltonblackandsonwhitelake.com. Memorial gifts may be sent to Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave., E. Lansing, MI 48823.