Irene A. Schawe, 96, died January 14, 2007 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas. She was born at Rural Great Bend, Kansas, October 19, 1910, the daughter of Lambert and Elizabeth Hall Kern. She married Wilbert "Bill" Schawe April 22, 1929 at Hutchinson, Kansas. He died April 3, 1989. Mrs. Schawe was a homemaker, and Great Bend resident most of her life. Mrs. Schawe was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick and an altar society member. Surviving Mrs. Schawe are two sons: Ronald A. Schawe, Great Bend, Kansas; and David H. Schawe and wife, Jan, Dallas, Texas; three daughters: Merna Dilldine, Craig, Colorado; Marlene Robl, Ellinwood, Kansas; and Rosemary Robl and husband, Roy, Ellinwood, Kansas; one brother, Raymond Kern, Hutchinson, Kansas; twenty-three grandchildren; fifty-one great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Infant Edwin Kern, Harold Kern, and Gene Kern; and one sister, Margaret Evans. Altar Society Rosary will be held at 4:00 p.m. and Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2007, at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 18, 2007, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend, Kansas, with Father Wesley Schawe officiating. Interment will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at Bryant Funeral Home. A memorial fund in Mrs. Schawe's name has been established with Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home.