Published in the St. Cloud Times (Saint Cloud MN) on Tuesday, March 13, 2001

Irene B. Fuchs, 78, of Paynesville MN, died March 12, 2001, at her home. Irene was born Sept. 28, 1922, in Melrose MN to Bernard and Rose (Inderieden) Wessel.

She participated in the war effort during World War II as a welder on aircraft carrier construction in Tacoma WA. She married Lester Fuchs Sept. 1, 1946, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. They farmed in the Lake Henry area until 1977, when they retired to Paynesville. She was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church, Paynesville Catholic Aid Association, St. Louis Christian Women, and St. Margaret's Christian Women in Lake Henry.

Preceding her in death were her parents; granddaughter Amy Lieser; brothers Joseph, John, and Al Wessel; twin sisters Ann Waldorf and Katherine Wessel; sisters Fran Cooper, Rose Wulfekule, and Mary Bucholz; and infant sister Frances.

Survivors include her husband Lester of Paynesville; children Beverly (Patrick) Athmann of Hanover MN, Barbara (Ken E.) Lieser of Spring Hill MN, John (Darlene) Fuchs of Lake Henry MN, and Mary Ann (Dan) Spanier of Spring Hill; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; her triplet sister Ione Walz of Melrose; her triplet sister Eileen Dold of Sauk Centre; and sisters Josephine Mayers of New Munich MN, Clara Conrad of Milwaukee WI, and Alvina (Sylvester) Woeste of Melrose.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Paynesville.. Entombment will be in the parish mausoleum in Paynesville. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Daniel-Anderson Funeral Home, Paynesville, and after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church until time of services. St. Louis and St. Margaret's Christian Women will pay at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m., and Paynesville Catholic Aid Association and St. Louis Knights of Columbus Council 3820 at 8:30 p.m.