Irene L. Zautcke (nee Hannemann), age 88, of West Bend, peacefully passed away Saturday morning, July 27, 2013 with family by her side. She was born September 24, 1924 in Cassel, Wisconsin to the late Henry and Anna (nee Huber) Hannemann.

Irene and her sisters grew up on a dairy farm in Cassel where she learned to work hard as she enjoyed her father with the various farm chores. In her late teens, she moved to Milwaukee and worked for several years as domestic help for two different families.

On a night outing with friends to Divines Ballroom at the Eagles Club, Irene saw Harold H. Zautcke across the room and invited him to join their group. A courtship soon ensued, and they were married on February 6, 1948, in Milwaukee.

Their first home was an apartment in the Belvedere Hotel. The family grew quickly as their marriage was soon blessed with five sons necessitating a move to a house near 17th and Keefe in Milwaukee. Irene enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, baking, canning, and was a talented seamstress.

In 1962, the family relocated to a house on the corner of 76th and Chambers, and there they attended Mother Good Counsel Church. The local police approached Irene to help them by serving as a school cross guard on the corner where they lived. She did this for 15 years and loved it!

A cottage on Big Cedar Lake was purchased for family weekend getaways in 1968 and later became Irene and Harold's retirement home. As a result, Irene continued in her love of flower gardening while embarking on a new hobby, that of fishing. Several of her largest catches are still displayed on the walls of the cottage.

Irene had a warm and engaging smile and enjoyed socializing with friends old and new. She was generous with her time, always willing to help others, extending a hand of friendship. She had a strong faith and cherished her frequent visits to Holy Hill.

Irene is survived by her sons Kenneth, Richard, Walter (Karen), and Marvin (Cheryl) Zautcke; grandson, Christopher (Paige) Zautcke; great-grandchildren, Caleb and Parker Zautcke; sisters, Arleen Sutter, Eileen Lang, and Marie Kucera; Harold's children (to whom she was a second mother), Donald Zautcke and Janet Hucker. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; sons, John and Larry Zautcke; sisters, Lucille Hannemann and Bernice Imhoff; and Kody, the family dog.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Irene will be at 6:30 PM on Friday, August 2, 2013 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 200 E. Washington St. in Slinger with Fr. Richard Stoffel with Concelebrant Fr. Cyril Guise, OCD presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM with a rosary service beginning at 6:15 PM. Entombment will take place at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the St. Peter's Endowment Fund or the charity of the donor's choice.

The family would like to sincerely thank the medical and nursing staff at St. Joseph's Hospital in West Bend for the loving attention Irene received while in their care.