Obituary: Irene Brown Gutsche

Irene Brown Gutsche passed away on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at Aurora VNA Zilber Hospice in Wauwatosa at the age of 94

 She was born Jan. 30, 1918, in St. Paul, MN to Charles and Helen (nee: Connell) Brown.  On May 31, 1941, she married George H. Gutsche, in Riverside, California, where he was stationed while in the Air Force.  In 1954, the couple moved to Waukesha. Irene was later employed at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, State Probation and Parole until her retirement in 1981. She was a faithful member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir.  After retirement, Irene and George enjoyed spending the winter at their home in Naples, Florida, where they were members of Shepherd of the Glades Lutheran Church.  She loved golfing, painting watercolors, genealogy and scrapbooking. She was a member of the Moor Downs Tuesday Ladies golf group. Irene also attended Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookfield.

She will be sadly missed by her three children:  George J. (Lorraine) Gutsche Tucson AZ, Joel (Rhoda) Gutsche Phoenix, AZ, Eileen (Bruce) Sutherland, Menomonee Falls Wi. five grandchildren: Tania and Alexander Gutsche, Paul Clifford, Colin (Carrie) Sutherland, Andrew (Betsy) Sutherland and two great grandchildren Ty Sutherland and Emma Sutherland.  She is also missed by her nephews, Charlie Robert Brown, Patrick Monaghan, step grandchildren, Samantha Clifford, Sabrina Clifford and Charles Birts. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband George H Gutsche, her brother Charles H. Brown and sister Harriet Monaghan-De Meyer.

A private family service will take place and burial will be at Prairie Home Cemetery.  If desired, memorials in Irene’s name may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.  For further information please call at 262-547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave the family an online tribute message.