Irene was born July 18, 1917 at the Panko farm south of Burr, Nebraska in Otoe County. She passed away on May 25, 2013 at the Syracuse Good Samaritan Center. As an infant, she was baptized in the Lutheran faith by Pastor John Beckman. She was confirmed Rev. John Streng and continued her membership in Hope Lutheran Church until 1951 when she transferred to Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse, Nebraska.

At the age of 5 she entered kindergarten at the Burr Public School and continued her education there until her graduation in 1935. She attended business school during the summers of 1934 and 1935 and entered the University of Nebraska in the fall of 1935 on a Regents Scholarship. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Teachers College in 1939. During college she was elected to Alpha Lambda Delta, freshmen women's honorary; Phi Lambda Theta, teachers honorary; and Phi Beta Kappa, National Academic Honorary Society.

From 1939 to 1942, Irene taught Latin and Mathematics in Osceola Public Schools. In the fall of 1942, she joined the staff of the Syracuse Public Schools, where she taught English, Latin, Mathematics and American History. She started the Home Economics Department and taught Home Ec for one year. She also coached the first volleyball team in Syracuse and served as principal for five years.

In January of 1950, she took a teaching position at Central High School in Omaha, where she taught Math and English. In 1953, she was appointed a part-time counselor eventually becoming a full-time counselor and in 1964 became Chair of the Counseling Department until her retirement in 1982.

Irene was a member of a number of professional teacher organizations including the Omaha Education Association, the Nebraska State Education Association, the National Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Kappa Iota.

She served as secretary-treasurer , vice president and president of the Nebraska State Educational Association District II and State President of the Department of Classroom Teachers. She was a member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teachers Education and the College-High School Advisory Committees for the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She was also a member of P.E.O.

Irene traveled in all of the 50 United States, as well as England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Mexico and Canada.

After retirement in 1982, Irene moved to Syracuse, where she participated in church and community activities, serving as president of the church council and a member of the Central District Council for the American Lutheran Church. She was also active in the Lay Ministry, Flower, Alter and Intern Committees at the church and taught Bible School, Confirmation School and Sunday School. She was a member of the Women of the Lutheran Church of America and treasurer of the Luther Memorial WELCA.

She was chairman of the Otoe County Senior Citizens Committee, a member and secretary of the Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging, Museum of Memories, and Lions Club; a member and vice-president of the Community Improvement Program and a member of the Syracuse Foundation, Chamber of Commerce and the Emonon Project Club. She received the Syracuse Journal Democrat Community of Service Award in 1996.

Irene married Martin Eisenhauer on August 25, 2001. Mr. Eisenhauer died January 13, 2002.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Minnie Eden and husband Martin Eisenhauer. She is survived by sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Henry Wellensiek of Syracuse,; niece Janice Tompkins of Omaha; nephews and spouses Karl and Denise Wellensiek, Henry and Cathy Wellensiek and Lee and Sharon Wellensiek all of Syracuse. Great nieces and nephews Marc and Christine Tompkins, Apple Valley, Minnesota; Jill and Philip Lisius, Arlington Heights, Illinois; Eric Wellensiek, Syracuse; Louise Wellensiek, Syracuse; Great-great niece and nephews Alexandre and Genevieve Tompkins and Derek and Brenden Lisius. Martin's children, Paul Eisenhauer of Menominee, Michigan; David Eisenhauer of Cook, NE; Lyle Eisenhauer of Sterling, NE; Diane Renche of Burr, NE; and Alta Bohling of Cook, NE.

Funeral services Saturday, June 1, 10:30 AM, Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Syracuse, NE.

Visitation Friday, May 31 from 9 A.M. until 9 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Burial Park Hill Cemetery, Syracuse.

Memorials to the family.

Arrangements By: Fusselman Allen Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse, NE 402-269-2441