Irene M. Schafer

Irene Marie Lysiak Schafer, 95, of Moses Lake died on Friday, March 19, 2010. Irene was born to parents Joseph and Mary Lysiak on March 13, 1915 in Golva, North Dakota. The family moved to Yakima in 1919. Irene was part of a large, close-knit Polish family who shared many fond memories with family and friends in the Yakima Valley.

In 1936, Irene married Ben Schafer and moved to Wapato where they raised three children and farmed with Ben’s brothers on Schafer Farms. Ben died in 1971 and Irene continued living in Yakima until 2002, when she moved to Moses Lake to be closer to her daughter Barbara. Irene was proud to have lived an independent and fulfilling life.

Irene had a green thumb and was a talented oil painter. She loved nothing more than having her family over for a wonderful home-cooked meal and playing spirited card games. Irene was a devout Catholic who loved spending quality time with those close to her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Irene is preceded in death by parents Joseph and Mary Lysiak; brothers Ted and Alex; and sisters Laura Killiam, Helen Hanses, Anne Hennessey, Bertha Schafer, and Sophie Miller; sons Daniel and Richard.

She is survived by her sister Martha Washam of Hillsboro, OR; sister-in-law Clarine Lysiak of Kennewick; daughter, Barbara Bradshaw and husband Gordon of Moses Lake, WA; daughter-in-law, Vicki Schafer; grandchildren Jerry Kinkade, Joan Bertram (and husband Bill), Carolyn Kinkade, Cheryl Kinkade, Danielle Cloke (and husband Chris), Brett Schafer, Lori Hunt; and great grandchildren Scott and Rebecca Bertram; Ben, Nicholas, and Josh Schafer; Mathew Schafer; Chris and Ally Hunt and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will precede the burial beginning on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Keith & Keith 9th Ave Chapel. Family and friends may either meet at the cemetery or at the funeral home and join the procession to the cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.