Irene Wise

Irene Wise, 101, Bismarck, passed away Thursday, October 26, 2023 at a local care center.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 3, at 10:30 am, at
DaWise-Perry Funeral Home, with Chaplain Merle Hoots officiating.
Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation is
scheduled one hour prior to the service.

Irene Gunsch was born on September 24, 1922, in Tappen, North
Dakota to Jacob and Christina (Krein) Gunsch. Growing up on the
family farm, she enjoyed playing guitar and singing with her sisters
and brothers. On December 10, 1944, she married Ralph Wise in
Dawson in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Lydia and
Ralph’s brother David. Living in Dawson, Irene was a housewife
and mother. Irene and Ralph, along with their three children, moved
to Bismarck in 1957. Her first and only job outside of the home was
with the Baptist Home. Through her many years with the Baptist
Home she worked as a nurse’s aide, physical therapy, bathing
assistant and also in activities. She retired from the Baptist Home
after 35+ years of service to the elderly. Ralph passed away in
2012. She continued living in her home until 2017 when she moved
into an assisted living facility. She was a lifelong member of the
United Church of Christ and attended services in the Baptist Home
chapel. She enjoyed cooking and baking German dishes and
desserts. She had a love of music and dancing which she passed on
to her children. Even into her late 80’s she could still kick-up her
heels to a polka or waltz.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Judy Sonnenberg, Mandan and
twins, daughter, Karen (John) Enderle, Taylor, and son Keith
(Lynne) Wise, Alexandria, VA; one sister, Eleanor “Lora” Johnson,
Bismarck; six grandchildren, Terry (Amanda) Sonnenberg,
Mandan; Tammy (John) Davis, Mandan; Corey (Andrea) Enderle,
Germantown Hills, IL; Nathan (Brigitta), East Peoria, IL; Preston
(Amy) Wise, Arlington, VA; Emily Wise (Thomas Bottem), St.
Paul, MN; 15 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, parents, Jacob
and Christina; five brothers, Ervin, Edward, Benny, Clarence and
Elmer; six sisters, Alma Kemmet, Lea (Penny) Aipperspach, Lydia
Wise, Ella Lewis, Hilda Jahner and Anne Mittleider; and one
grandson, Kevin Enderle.