Irene E. Schouten

Schouten, Irene E.
Formerly of Kaukauna

Age 80, passed away Saturday, February 9 at the Cherry Meadows Hospice. She was born to the late Charles and Lois Ellensohn in Owen, Wisconsin on November 11, 1921. Irene graduated from the Marshfield School of Nursing and was employed at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. When the Kaukauna Community Hospital first opened its doors, Irene was one of several nurses recruited to offer their service to the new hospital. Irene entertained the recruited nurses at her home on Wisconsin Avenue. On May 20, 1944, Irene married the late Joe Schouten. They made their home in Kaukauna, where they raised their family of five children. Irene was a faithful member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Appleton. She is survived by a son: Dr. Joseph (Susan) Schouten of Appleton; three daughters: Karen (Dr. Arthur) Helgerson of Appleton; Nancy (Jack) Leidel of Tallahassee, Florida; Margaret (Lynn Stitzel) Schouten of Milwaukee; a son-in-law: John Skibba of Little Chute; ten grandchildren: Jason (Meredith) Helgerson; Bradley (Pam) Helgerson; Jena Helgerson; Amy (Jim) Witthuhn; James Skibba; Lynn, Laura and Brian Leidel; Joseph Schouten III, and Andrew Schouten; seven great-grandchildren: Abraham, Taylor, Carissa, Owen and Rachel Witthuhn and Farah and Neal Helgerson; three sisters-in-law: Helen Schouten of Madison, Dorothy Gillen of Kaukauna and Genevieve Biese of DePere; and a special niece: Diane Gunderson. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe, a daughter Mary Skibba, and sisters Dorothy Mertens and Betty Tietz.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the loving and caring staff at the Cherry Meadows Hospice. It is a tribute to Cherry Meadows that during Irene's six-month stay she would requently say, ''could life get any better than this?'' Words cannot express the gratitude that we feel for Sister Betty and Father Falk of St. Thomas More Church. It was through their dedication to frequent visits and prayers that Irene found
peace. The family would like also to extend their thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside for his compassionate care. Irene was very proud of the Irene Schouten Foundation and the work it did to help the people in the Fox Cities. Memorials may be sent to the Irene Schouten Foundation at the Bank of Kaukauna. We will miss Irene; she was truly one-of-a-kind. A private family service will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Appleton, followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kaukauna.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130
920-766-6200