Irene Clare Stegeman of Blackwell, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday morning, March 16, 2019, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, at the age of 96 years.

Irene Clare Stegeman was born on September 24, 1922, in Leoville, Kansas. She was the daughter of Henry and Rose (Schieferecke) Dempewolf.  She grew up in Leoville, Kansas, attending Leoville Public Schools and graduating from Leoville High School. She furthered her education at the Saint Francis School of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas, receiving her Registered Nurse Degree.  She married Paul August "Pat" Stegeman on September 14, 1944, in Blackwell and they lived in various towns where she worked as a nurse while Pat was serving in the military. Following Pat's discharge they returned back to Blackwell where Irene began working at the Blackwell Regional Hospital and the last twenty seven years of her career worked as a nurse for Dr. Becker retiring at the age of seventy. On July 13, 2010, Pat preceded her in death and she continued to make Blackwell her home. She was a member of the VFW women's auxiliary, the Altar Society, and the St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; two infant children; two brothers, Henry Dempewolf and John Dempewolf; two sisters, Ethel Baxa and Mildred Sauer; and one granddaughter, Lisa Cassidy.

She is survived by a son, William Stegeman of Denver, Colorado; four daughters, Pat Vogt of Norman, Oklahoma, Marilyn Miskimins of Sachse, Texas, Rose Ann McChristian of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Virginia Kowalsky of Blackwell, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Prayer service is set for Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 7:00 pm at the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 10:00 am with Father Ben Lwin officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Serving as casketbearers will be David Buesing, Mark Cordell, John Reedey, T. J. Greenfield, Lloyd Roberts and Justin McChristian. The grandchildren will serve as honorary casketbearers.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Blackwell in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.