Irene Klahn-Porter

December 20, 1950 - July 26, 2023

From the moment you met her, Irene made you feel like family or a lifelong friend – and if you knew her for more than 10 minutes, she referred to you as "Baby," "Honey," or "Sweetie".  Full of endless energy and light, she poured warmth and love into everyone she knew.  Irene (Klahn) Porter died Wednesday, July 26 at the Fremont Medical Center surrounded by love with her family at her side.

Born in Hamlin, Iowa, and raised in Fremont, Irene Charter graduated from Fremont High School in 1969. After high school, she graduated beauty school and worked as a beautician. She married Donnie (Donald) Klahn on June 10, 1972, and together they had two children, Ryan and Jamie.  For several years, Irene focused on being a mom full-time. Once her kids grew older, she worked as a surgical technician at the Fremont Area Medical Center. She held that job for over 20 years up until her retirement in 2016. After Donnie passed away in 2001, she married Danny Porter on March 11, 2006, and they remained married until her death.

She found joy in many things, but she absolutely lived for being a grandma. Her pride and love for all of her grandchildren was without limits. She made each and every one of them feel special, and they knew her love was unconditional. She was very present and involved in their lives and someone they could lean on, offering them her ear, food, or even haircuts. She attended every school function, activity or sporting event that she could. From the stands, her cheers and applause were not only loud, but she could also unleash a very recognizable and unrivaled whistle.

Irene lived every day to the fullest with positivity and was ready at a moment's notice to give out a hug or advice, all while wearing a smile that could light up a room. She thrived by keeping herself constantly busy, enjoying many different hobbies and activities. She loved gardening, exercising, listening to music (loudly), dancing and even cleaning.  But one of her favorite things to do was spend time at her cabin on the Platte River, which she fondly referred to as her "little piece of heaven."  There was always an open invitation for family and friends to come out to the cabin to visit, especially for Friday night "wienie roasts." She enjoyed riding on the air boat or just sitting and watching the river flow by.

Irene was preceded in death by her first husband, Donnie; father Harrison Charter; mother Mary Charter; brother Carl Charter and sister Ann Stanek.

Irene is survived by husband Danny Porter; son Ryan (Keri) Klahn and children Jared, Tanner and Addison; daughter Jamie (David) Short and son Xander; stepdaughter Stacey (Shawn) Hall and children Samantha and Spencer; stepson Danny Porter Jr. (fiancée Alicia Adcock) and son Connor; stepdaughter Amy Bubbert and children Linley, Macey, Aidan and Brody; sisters Mary Berner and Louise Johnstone.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Dugan Funeral Chapel in Fremont from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at Dugan Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be directed to the family.