Nadeau, Irene B. , died November 15, 2017 at the age of 95.  Beloved wife of the late Raymond.  Dear mother of Diana (Stanley) Johns and Randy.  Proud grandmother of Nathan Johns.  She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Charles and Emma (Brown) Warner; brothers, Clyde, Jiles, Homer, Burton, Dixon, Harrison, Jasper, Harley, Everett, and Doyle and sisters, Lydia, Lucille, and Leona. She is survived by a host of loving nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Irene was born in rural Norwood Township in a farmhouse her dad built just outside of Charlevoix, Michigan on September 11, 1922.  As the first girl to be born after nine boys, she played an important role in helping her mother with household tasks and the care of younger children.  Her family valued hard work on their farm and yet they found time every evening to finish the day around a pump organ her mother played, singing hymns like " The Old Rugged Cross ".  She attended a one-room schoolhouse (Clark School) across the road from her home for the first eight grades of her education.  In order to attend high school, she worked for her room and board in Charlevoix and graduated high school in 1940.  As World War II began, she moved down to Dearborn and lived with her brother Dixon and his family for a time as she worked at a local factory (Wayne Wire and Cloth), in order to assist with the war effort.  She continued to work after the war ended and was introduced to her future husband (who had just returned from his service with the Army Air Corps) by his sister Dorothy, with whom she worked.  They were married on November 19, 1949 and built a home next to Raymond's sister Evelyn in Taylor, Michigan.  All of the work on the home was done by Raymond and Irene with everyone in their family lending a hand according to their expertise and talent.  Her home, built on a half-acre that adjoined a local wooded area, would become the site of many family gatherings in subsequent years.  She was blessed to have neighbors that she grew really close to over the years who were a great source of joy to her as she got older.

Although a homemaker for many years, as her children graduated high school she co-founded a very successful cleaning company that transformed newly built homes into inviting spaces for the families that purchased them.  She was always happy that she was able to provide work for some of her neighbors and church friends.  Irene worked harder than most people can imagine today – getting up in the early hours, cleaning all day and then coming home to mow her half acre lawn.  She didn't retire until she reached 70, when a fall reduced her mobility for a period of time.  Family was always Irene's top priority.  She enjoyed frequent trips to Charlevoix for reunions with family and to hear her musical family play piano, guitar, banjo, and fiddle as they sung old time songs and hymns at the Barnard Grange Hall.  This close-knit family celebrated their 71st Family Reunion last summer.

Irene and Raymond were active members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dearborn where both taught Sunday School for more years than can be counted.  Irene specialized in working with preschool aged students.  Irene and Raymond were also leaders of the Walther League at church and in retirement helped out with the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Program.  Irene was also active as a local leader in the Girl Scouts of America.

Visitation is on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 1 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home in Dearborn, Michigan.  Funeral Services will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Union and Westwood) in Dearborn, Michigan at 11 A.M. on Saturday, November 18, 2017.  A private burial service will be held at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia on Monday, November 20, 2017.

Memorials can be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Dearborn, Michigan.