Irene Warber

Irene Warber was a woman who always loved the wind in her face, and always faced her challenges head-on. She was a strong, strong-willed woman, with a great faith in the Lord, and a great love for life and the people around her. Irene was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, and a friend to many over the years. More than anything, she was a blessing to all who knew her. Irenes story began on a hot summer day in 1921, in the beautiful beachside town of Grand Haven, Michigan. Those were good days in this country, times of peace and prosperity, when Big Bands were king and Prohibition was law of the land. On August 8, 1921, a hot, muggy Monday in Grand Haven, Ernie and Jennie (Koning) Franks celebrated the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Irene. Irene was the couples second of four children, joining her older brother Jim and little siblings Evelyn and Bill in the familys Grand Haven home. Her father was a florist, who owned his own greenhouse in town, Franks Floral, while her mother cared for the kids and the home, and helped out at the business. Franks Floral was clearly a full family affair, though. Irene fondly remembered working there quite often growing up, serving as a floral designer. She learned her tireless work ethic at the greenhouse, working there every day after school in Grand Haven, and learned how to run the business in the process. Irene graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1939, and began working at the greenhouse full-time. Soon, though, shed have a different family business to run her own. One day Irene met a handsome young man named Warren Warber, and the sparks flew between them. They began dating, and were eventually married, on December 13, 1946, in Grand Haven. Warren owned his own dairy bar, Warbers Dairy Bar, and the newlyweds became partners, too. Thanks to her experience and upbringing at the greenhouse, Warren couldnt have found a better partner than Irene, either. She was a very bright, hardworking woman, and with her help, the couple soon owned several locations around the area. Eventually, the couple became parents, as well. They were blessed with two fine sons, Warren and Robert, who made their parents so happy and proud. She was a wonderful mother, a very supportive parent, who enjoyed participating in her sons activities, too. Irene especially loved riding snowmobiles in the wintertime, tearing across a frozen Spring Lake, right alongside her sons and husband! Later in life, Irene enjoyed going boating and fishing with her son Bob, too. Of course, Irene loved having the wind in her face any time she could, whether it was on a snowmobile, on the scooters she loved riding all over town, or especially, in her prized, Ford Galaxie 500 convertible! She loved that car, and was so proud of it. In fact, she once got in it, and a stranger hopped in the car, and told her he was stealing it! Well, nobody was going to steal her convertible, so she quickly grabbed the keys, and ran back into the safety of the dairy bar! Strong, and strong-willed, that was Irene. And hardworking, too. When she and Warren eventually sold their dairy bar business, she wasnt content to rest on her laurels. Irene began working as a food demonstrator at area grocery stores, and also volunteered at North Ottawa Community Hospital, as a receptionist. Working at the hospital was a natural fit for her, since she was so good at taking care of the people around her. She lovingly cared for her parents for many years, riding her little moped from her Spring Lake home, all the way across the Grand River drawbridge each day, to her parents home in Grand Haven. She cared for her parents at the end of their lives, until her father died in 1985. Sadly, Irenes beloved Warren died just two years later, in 1987, at a relatively young age. She was deeply saddened, but relied on her family and her faith to see her through. She was always a woman of great faith in the Lord, which was a big part of her life. Irene was especially close to a local pastor named Jerry Collins, who was truly like a third son to her. She encouraged Jerry to start his own congregation, and with her prodding, Rev. Collins began the Shoreline Community Church in Muskegon in 1990, where Irene was an active member the rest of her days. Later in life, Irene suffered a series of strokes, which affected her greatly. Her family lovingly cared for her, and she was eventually placed in hospice care in 2001. She remained in hospice care an unprecedented six years, a strong and strong-willed woman to the last. Irene died at her son Bobs home on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at the age of 86. Irene was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life she lived with the wind in her face all her days. She was a hardworking, caring and compassionate woman, who devoted her life to caring for the family and friends all around her. Irene was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, and a friend to so many. More than anything, her life was a blessing to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Irene is survived by her sons, Warren (Sandra) Warber of Grand Rapids, Robert (Vicki) Warber of Twin Lake; 5 grandchildren, Tiffany Bonjernoor, Justin, Brock, Michael, Jeffrey, Warber; 4 great grandchildren, Aiden, Gabby Bonjernoor, Caroline, Nicholas Warber; sister, Evelyn Bronson of Grand Haven; brother, Bill Franks of Grand Haven. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and by her brother, Jim Franks. Services are scheduled for Sunday, January 6, 2008, 3:00 PM at Shoreline Community Church with Pastor Jerry Collins officiating. Visitation is also Sunday, 2-3 PM at Shoreline Community Church. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Hospice or Shoreline Community Church Memorial Fund. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo, or to sign the online guest book.