Irene Lorene (Hrabe) Russ, 97, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday evening, May 9, 2015 at Main Street Manor in Russell.

Irene was born June 12, 1917 in rural Rooks County, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph, Jr.  and Agnes (Harmacek) Hrabe.  She grew up in Rooks County near Plainville, Kansas in the Twin Mound area.  She attended school at the Hrabe School House in Twin Mound and the Plainville High School.

Irene was united in marriage to Everett V. Russ on September 16, 1937 in Stockton, Kansas.  This union was blessed with two children, Vickie and Roger.  Everett was in the military, so the first part of the marriage they lived in Wichita, Kansas, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Woodston, Kansas, and in 1953 they settled in Natoma, Kansas.

Irene was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.  During her husband’s military years she worked for Woolworths and Montgomery Wards.  Then from 1959 to 1963 she was a cook at Natoma High School.

Irene attended the Presbyterian Church of Natoma.  She was a member of E.H.U., Order of the Eastern Star, V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and the Osborne County Women’s Church Group.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing with hand and machine quilts, tending her flower beds, canning and doing crafts.

Surviving family include her daughter, Vickie S. Russ of Russell, Kansas; son, Roger Russ (Marilynn) of Ottumwa, Iowa; three grandchildren, Tamara Conrad, Torra Dinkel and Alissa Russ; six great grandchildren, Bailey, Bethany, Braxton, Aiden, Isaac and Blake.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Everett, eight brothers, five sisters, numerous nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Irene’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell.  Burial will follow at the Plainville City Cemetery in Plainville, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 AM to 8 PM Wednesday at the mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6 PM to 7 PM.  Memorials have been established with the Russell V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary or Heritage Seekers – Presbyterian Church of Natoma.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.