Irene T. Vlach

Irene Therese Vlach (nee Reinhardt, nee Fischer)

Born in Rib Lake, WI on January 2, 1931, the sixth child of Caroline (Pahoreski) and John Reinhardt, Sr., Irene was called to heaven on July 14, 2024, at the age of 93. Beloved mother of Elizabeth (George) Lukewich, Denise Fischer, Kathy (Richard “Joe”) Ziembo, Andy (Sandy) Fischer, Jennifer (Steve) Welch, John (Tammy) Fischer, Mary (Randy) Senkbeil, David (Cindi McConnell) Fischer, Beverly (Keith) Bright and the late Joseph Vlach Jr. 

She was a devout Catholic who was generous to all. She had a huge heart with a beautiful smile and a twinkle in her eyes. She loved her family, music, playing piano, a good joke, roses, playing cards (especially Sheepshead), and painting. After graduating high school, she moved to Milwaukee where she worked at an insurance company and met and married Don Fischer. Together, they had eight children. After Don’s unexpected death in 1962, she moved back to Rib Lake and met and married Joe Vlach, with whom she had two additional children. For many years, she was a faithful employee of Rib Lake Nursing Home. After all the kids moved away, she moved to Crivitz, then Medford, Marshfield and finally Hartland, WI. 

She was preceded in death by her son Joseph Vlach Jr., her parents, husbands Donald Fischer and Joseph Vlach, siblings Marie Hall Belanger, Marcella Durand, John Reinhardt, Jr., Dorothy Stewart Koch, and Gerald Reinhardt. She is survived by 9 of her children, 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. 

All services will be held at St. Charles Catholic Church, 313 Circle Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin on August 10, 2024. Visitation from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM followed by gathering at the Hartland American Legion, Post 294, 231 Goodwin Avenue.