Irene Collier

Broken Bow, NE- Irene Collier age 91 of Broken Bow formerly of Dunning died Sunday March 28, 2010 at the Off Broadway Assisted Living in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be held Wednesday March 31, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the Sandhills Community Church in Dunning with Rev. Lee Wonch officiating. Burial will be in the Dunning Cemetery with Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow in charge of the arrangements. Memorials have been established to the Sandhills Community Church at Dunning. Irene Stella Schmidt was born August 4, 1918 to Adolph and Stella (Van Horn) Schmidt at the sod house fourteen miles south west of Dunning, Nebraska. Mrs. Eckert was the midwife. Irene went to Prairie Gem School near her home and graduated from the 8th grade. She married her neighbor boyfriend Laurence Collier on August 30, 1937. To this union three children were born. Irene was a homemaker most of her life. She enjoyed fishing, casinos, playing cards, games, bowling, crocheting and she was an excellent cook. Phyllis May was born in Arnold, NE on May 19, 1938. They lived on the Floyd Lucas place at Logan, NE. Larry Lee was born at Kearney, NE on January 18, 1944. They operated an airport there and Laurence gave pilot lessons. Irene was the book keeper. Next came Allen LeRoy who was born at Anselmo, NE on September 16, 1948. Laurence and Irene were working at the Buzzard Ranch near Halsey, NE. Laurence and Irene also worked for the Schwengle-Erickson Ranch for six years. Irene cooked for at least ten around the table. They raved about her food, “Doc Erickson would come up on Sundays and give mother a bonus for a home cooked meal. They moved later to Urbana, MO where Laurence operated a machine shop and farmed for awhile. In 1984, they moved back to the Sandhills. As they say once a sandhiller always a sandhiller. Irene had a love for birds and dogs. She had dog named Pete, a mutt, Trixie, a boston terrier and Roxie a pomeranian. They had chickens, ducks, wild ducks and turkeys. Irene loved to watch them out the window. She played cards with the local Kensington Club fro years and enjoyed other games with her kids. It was always fun to stop in for a meal, she cooked the good stuff, meat, potatoes, gravy, salads and vegetables and so tasty!! Irene enjoyed when Laurence was working on the oil pipeline construction. They had a mobile home and the women had fun shopping garage sales and seeing all the new country. Irene is survived by her sons Larry Collier of Dunning and Allen (Barb) Collier of Escanaba, Michigan, and a daughter Phyllis (Dwight) Saner of Dunning, seven grandchildren, Randy (Patti) Saner, Cindy(Kenny) Neben, Kurt (Jeanine) Saner, Troy (Branda) Saner, Michael (Samantha) Collier, Robyn Collier and Chad Collier, 18 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren.