Irene Katherine (Reuter) Madar , 96, of Dearborn, passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2018. She was born on September 26, 1921 in Belleville, MI, the daughter of Anthony and Ida (Theisen) Reuter. She graduated from Belleville High School in 1939, from Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in 1943 with a Bachelor's degree and subsequently with a Master's degree both in Education. As an undergraduate at Eastern, Irene was on the swim team and set several University swimming records. In 1945, she went to work for the Dearborn Public Schools as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher where she was employed until her retirement in 1980. In recognition of her 35 years of service, the playground at Nowlin Elementary School in Dearborn was named in her honor in 1982. In her youth, Irene was an avid sportswoman, particularly enjoying swimming, baseball and basketball. She was an accomplished genealogist and was active in the Dearborn Historical Society and the Dearborn Genealogical Society. Much of her genealogy research is on file with the Burton Historical Library in Detroit, the Dearborn Historical Society and at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. Irene was principally responsible for establishing St. Alphonsus Cemetery as a Michigan Historical Site. She enjoyed many of the craft arts including sewing, caning, quilting, mosaic, and canning. Irene was a long-time Dearborn resident and member of St. Sebastian's and subsequently St. Alphonsus Catholic Churches.

She married Alexander W. Madar on June 19, 1948, who passed away in 1993. She is survived by her daughter Gail (Robert) Perkins of West Bloomfield, MI, and her son Alexander (Wendy) Madar of Euless, TX, grandchildren Erik (Sara) Perkins, Melanie (Justin) Rogin, Jacqueline Perkins and Mark Perkins, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister Doreen Kasonovich and her brothers Louis and Anthony Reuter.

The immediate family will receive friends and other relatives at Howe-Peterson Funeral (22546 Michigan Ave, Dearborn) from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Friday, February 2, 2018 with a Rosary beginning at 8:00 P.M. Irene's life will be celebrated in a mass of resurrection at St. Alphonsus – St. Clement Catholic Church (13540 Gould St, Dearborn) at 11:00 A.M. (instate 10:30 A.M.) on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Her cremated remains will be interred in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, all donations be made to Angela Hospice Home Care, Inc. (angelahospice.org)