Irene "Babe" Brainerd

SIOUX CITY | Irene M. "Babe" Brainerd, 62, of Sioux City died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, at a local hospital after a brief illness. Services will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Irene was born Jan. 19, 1951, in Sioux City, the daughter of Wilmuer C. and Irene L. (Nugent) Schunneman. She graduated from Central High School in 1969. Her past employment included Prairie Pediatrics and Dr. Dona Prince's dental office. Currently, she was an award-winning customer relations manager for Rick Collins Toyota dealership and previously for Art Silva Toyota. On July 26, 1980, she married Milton T. Brainerd at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church. Babe loved and spoiled her grandchildren and spent as much time with them as possible, always buying them "surprises." She was a selfless person who always tried to take care of everyone else. Babe was loved by many more people than she ever realized, thanks to her thoughtful, kind and generous nature. She had a great sense of humor, and her favorite TV shows were "I Love Lucy" and "Bonanza." Babe was an amazing wife, mother to her favorite son-in-law, Pat, and best friend to her daughter, Jennifer. Survivors include her husband, Milt; a daughter, Jennifer McLoughlin and her husband, Patrick of Cottage Grove, Minn.; two sisters, Mary Johnson and her husband, Kenny, and Joan Taylor, all of Sioux City; three grandchildren, True, Braden and Ella; a nephew, Allen Rohan and his wife, Diana; and a niece, Kim Walker and her husband, Chad. She was preceded in death by her parents. Pallbearers will be Rick Collins, Art Silva, Jim Cornelia, Dick Hrasky, Allen Rohan and Chad Walker. A memorial will be established in her name.