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Irene Ester (Willner) Ward, age 71, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 10th, 2024, after a long three-year struggle with cancer. She was surrounded by her surviving family; Daughter Athena Rae Gronquist of Ogilvie, MN, Daughter and Caretaker Megan Leann Gronquist of Star Prairie, WI, and Granddaughter Coral Irene Gronquist of Star Prairie, WI. She is preceded in death by her husband, David William Ward, parents Grace (Gerberdine) and Herbert Williner of Eden Valley, MN. Sisters, Geraldine Johnson, Florence (Ed) Chase, Diane (Arlen) Riebe, and Brothers, Herbert Willner and Roger Willner. Also, grandparents, several cousins, aunts and uncles. Irene was the youngest of six children.
She spent her childhood on the family farm in Grove City, MN, where she learned the value of hard work. Irene graduated from Grove City High School in 1970. She moved to St. Paul shortly after graduating and began working at Burlington Northern Railroad where she spent 42 years in various positions in the customer service office. Finally retiring in 2012 as a supervisor of customer accounting.
She met and married her first husband Keith A. Gronquist in 1972. They spent 12 years together moving from Minnesota to Wisconsin in 1981, divorcing in 1984. She then met her second husband and best friend David W. Ward in 1985 and married in 1986. They moved from Centuria, WI, to Star Prairie in 1986. She built her home in Star Prairie on the north end of Cedar Lake and remained there through the end of her life. In her free time Irene enjoyed vegetable gardening, sewing quilts and animal wall hangings, baking pies and cookies, experimenting with new recipes, canning vegetables and fruits, listening and dancing to her record collection, watching various movies and tv shows, and bowling on the Monday afternoon and Tuesday night women’s leagues. She was always outside in the summer for long periods of time tending to her gardens and the yard (doing the work the hard way). She enjoyed raking leaves in the fall, and shoveling snow, (She refused to get a snow blower) in the winter. She also spent 31 years as a caretaker to her late husband, David, who passed away in 2017. She was an avid animal lover and kept her house full of pets that needed homes, and someone to love and care for them. Even though she was an extreme introvert, she would always talk to people when she was approached. She also enjoyed watching girls basketball on TV, and her granddaughter Coral at various sporting events she participated in, such as softball, and powerlifting. She will be missed so much by many friends and remaining family members.
Irene’s wishes of being cremated will be carried out. A celebration of life for Irene was held on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (728 S Knowles Ave) New Richmond, Wisconsin from 3:00-6:00PM. The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice and Hope Parton for the care they provided to Irene. Also, a special thank you to Westfields Hospital nursing staff for their compassion and kindness during the final days of Irene’s life. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Animal Humane Society in her name.
6 Comments
R.I.P. Irene gonna miss you at Bowling and always
Loved the time we spent together on the farm. You will always be a special cousin. Love and miss you already.
Irene was such a good friend. We shared laughter, talks, sorrows, and good times. She will be missed but I will always carry in my heart. I prayed for every night while she was dealing with cancer. How I will pray for her every night, knowing that she is save in heaven.
To the family of Irene. I am Albert’s daughter who was Herb’s brother. Irene was my cousin. All the time wonderful comments about her love for gardening and the outdoors made me smile. This is exactly the way she was raised! Always a quiet girl but very caring. Our sympathy to you all!
Irene. aka. Mom. Will be miss by the bowling leagues.RIP Mom.. thoughts and prayers to the family.
Irene was such a wonderful person. We met when she was my supervisor at the railroad. We had so many fun conversations. Her kindness and good sense of humor made our jobs there at BN much easier. We remained friends after we retired, still having good conversations from time to time. Irene cared so much about her garden and all the animals in her midst. Her caring for those that she loved was the most important thing to her. I feel so blessed to have known her.
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