Irene Bare passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. Irene was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on October 5, 1916 to George and Eleanor (Higgins) Steltenpohl.

She grew up on the family dry farm 5 miles west of Spotted Horse in Campbell County, Wyoming. Irene entertained her grandchildren with stories of her early life on the farm. She had a number of unconventional pets including a skunk and a porcupine. In order to attend school, she and her brother Wayne lived in a sheep wagon and a tent for part of the year. Despite rattlesnake dens, extreme weather from blizzards to drought, and many other challenges of a homesteader’s life, she recalled her early years with fondness.

Irene attended various schools in the Spotted Horse area and graduated from Gillette High School in 1934. After graduation she attended Heiman’s Business School in Sheridan and returned to Gillette upon completion to work for the Barlow Insurance Agency. She returned to Sheridan in 1946 to take a job with the Internal Revenue Service. In 1948 she married Jack W. Bare and together they raised three sons, Gary, Jack, and George. She instilled in her children the value of hard work and inspired in them a love of the outdoors.

Irene enjoyed playing pinochle, traveling extensively, and creating needlework of all kinds. She was also an accomplished pianist. She was well known for her talent for embroidery, crochet and needlepoint. Many of her family and friends will cherish the beautiful afghans she so thoughtfully crafted for them. Irene loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Wayne Steltenpohl, her husband Jack W. Bare, and her daughter-in-law Vicki Bare. She is survived by her sons Gary Bare, Jack (Terri) Bare, and George (Ginny) Bare, all of Sheridan; her nieces Candy (Bare) MacDonald and Mary Jane (Bare) Mallonee; nephews Bobby Bare, John Bare, Ron Wiley, James Wiley, and Mick, Matt, Mark, and Marty Steltenpohl; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Visitation for Irene will be Wednesday, August 25, 2010 from 8:30 to 9:30 am at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 25 at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with Father Jim Heiser officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Elks Memorial Section of the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Irene’s name to any number of meaningful causes. The family suggests the Sheridan County Historical Society Museum, the Elks Cemetery Fund, or the Sheridan Dog & Cat Shelt

‍