Irene J. Wallin

Irene J. Wallin, 89, of Kimball, died at her home in Kimball surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball with Pastor Carla Gunn officiating. Inurnment will be held in the Kimball Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. to sign the register book and leave condolences for the family. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Irene's Tribute Wall and leave condolences for the family. Memorials have been established to the Relay For Life Cancer Fund or the American Alzheimer's Association. The services for Irene have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Irene was born March 20, 1926 on the family farm 13 miles north and ½ mile west of Kimball in Banner County to William H. and Blanche A. (Fitz) Steele. Along with her 5 brothers, Bernard, Maurice (Stub), Harold (Spike), Billy, and Robert (Bob) they attended country school 3 miles east of the farm by horse drawn wagon. She always remembered the dirty 30s (Dust Bowl Days). During the dirt storms, they would sit in school and cover their nose and mouth to keep from breathing the dust. Many times they would have to walk 3 miles home after school in the wind and dirt. Irene attended grade school in Banner County at Bellevue, District 1, and her freshman year at Banner County High School and after moving with her family to the farm ½ mile north of Dix, graduated from Dix High School in 1944. After graduating she worked at the American National Bank. On May 16, 1946 she married the love of her life Leland D. (Lee) Wallin, (they were married just 2 weeks short of 63 years when Lee passed away on April 29, 2009) and to this union was born 2 sons, Larry and Richard and daughter Karen. After Irene had her family raised she went to work at the Western Nebraska Observer for 12 years. Family was always an important part of her life. She was a good cook and enjoyed having gatherings at her home. She was always up for a good card game especially with her grandkids, loved to sew, making and repairing a lot of clothes for family. She loved her flowers (especially roses) and gardening. She enjoyed going to garage sales and helping with them. She was a kind and gentle lady, but she could also be pretty feisty at times (having grown up with 5 brothers probably had something to do with that). She will be greatly missed by her family and all that knew her.

She is survived by her 2 sons Larry L. (Fran) Wallin, Richard A. (Pat) Wallin and daughter Karen A. Wheeland. She has 3 grandsons, Jeff (Rita) Wallin and Brad (fiancée Tatiana Kokina) Wallin, and Chris Scheenen and one granddaughter Genny (Jimmy) Withrow. She has 6 great grandchildren, Mackayla and Jentry Wallin, Jameson, Jett, and Jersey Withrow, and Anastasia Wallin. She is also survived by her brother Harold (Doris) Steele, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Leland (Lee), 4 brothers and sisters-in-law Bernard (Dorothy), Maurice (Betty Jo), Billy (Esther), and Robert (JoAnn), and her parents William and Blanche Steele, 2 brothers-in-law Willis Wallin, Winton (Maurine) Wallin.