It is with sadness mixed with great joy for her, that we announce the death of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Irene Wickard. She passed away peacefully at The Village on May 1, 2021 at 92 years of age.
Irene was born in Wheatland, Wyoming on December 19, 1928 to John and Mollie Kraft. Her family moved to the Bayard, NE area where she lived most of her life. She met and then married Bernard E. Wickard on February 29, 1948. They lived on a farm east of Minatare, NE for over 35 years until they moved into town to retire.
She was one of 6 sisters and could cook with the best of them. Her fried chicken, blackberry dumplings and homemade noodles were always a hit at her kitchen table. Her grandchildren rave of her homemade fudge and popcorn on sleepovers. She loved to grow flowers and vegetable gardening giving everyone a jar of homemade pickles at Christmas! Like them or not~
Irene loved being the center of attention even though she would say that was not so. She loved the glamor of a beautiful dress with shoes and purse to match! To say she would shop till she dropped is an understatement – with a passion for garage sales like no other.
She loved to collect anything and everything…and left a treasure trove of stuff to her daughter and sons who had no idea what to do with it!
She was a member of the Church of Christ and taught Sunday School for the little ones for years. She graced the “linger longers” at church with her cooking and volunteering.
Irene Wickard was preceded in death by all her 5 sisters and 4 brothers, 1 grandson and the love of her life, her husband Bernard Wickard. She is survived by all four children: Dennis Wickard and wife Kottie (of Rapid City) Randy and wife Darlene, daughter Cindy Barnes, and Vance and wife Karen all of Scottsbluff, NE. Grandchildren: Leslie Barnes, Tori Barnes, Justin Wickard, Brooke Savant, Michelle Ferris, Chase Wickard, Chelsea Wickard, Jerod Eskam, Brenda Witmer, Stacy Crisler and 11 great grandchildren. All of these she loved and touched deeply.
A celebration of life for Irene will be held at the Minatare Church of Christ on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 10 am. Services will be livestreamed on Bridgman Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Interment immediately following at the Minatare Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the Minatare Church of Christ in honor of Irene. Online condolences may be made by visiting Irene’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
