Irene M. Kopernik

On the 26th of January, 2024, Irene M. Kopernik (nee Pioro)  of Blair, WI passed away at the age of 95. She was born in Sady, Poland, on March 28, 1928, to Chester and Katherine Pioro and her earliest days were spent in Poland.

She and her family were taken and forced to work in German work camps during World War II. They stayed in the camps under American control after the war. Here she met and married Peter Paul Kopernik.

She and her family finally made it to the United States in 1951. She eventually called Milwaukee, Wisconsin home and became an American citizen. Irene lived the American dream in many ways because she earned it through hard work, faith, and prudence. Irene worked and retired from the American Motors Corporation/Chrysler in Kenosha, where she earned a reputation for being a scrappy lady who not only got the job done but did well with a persistent, hardworking, optimistic attitude of gratitude.

Irene and Peter had a son, Peter Henry Kopernik. In addition to raising their son, she was also a significant part of her two grandchildren’s lives and provided a healthy and supporting cornerstone in their upbringing and early adulthood.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and son, her sister Janet Carillo and brother-in-laws Albert Carilo and Edmund Smieja. She is survived by her grandchildren Paul Kopernik and CarrieAnn (Bret) Glembocki, great-grandson Weylan Glembocki, nephew Albert (Jackie) Carilo, niece Susan (Timothy Baldwin) Smieja and goddaughter Jeanne (Dan) Blau. She was a friend to many, from Poland to Germany to the United States.

In 2016, Irene moved to Independence, WI and spent most of her remaining days with her devoted sister, Mary Smieja, where the two of them bonded further as sisters and brought their remaining family closer together.

She was a devoted friend and encouraged others freely. She was one of the most compassionate people anyone could meet. She was known for her amazing Polish cooking and for being kind and empathetic.

The special care given by the staff at Grand View Care Center in Blair, Wisconsin, has done much to ease the weight of the last few months, along with the ceaseless attention given by her sister, Mary. We express our heartfelt gratitude for your service as we appreciate the challenges of such undertakings.

Irene had a child-like faith as a devoted Catholic, which served her and others around her well and will serve her well in the afterlife. Her legacy lives on with all the lives she touched, and the world is now a little darker place without the sweet soul that Irene carried with grace all these last 95 years.

Services for Irene will be held at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (3100 S. 41st Street, Milwaukee) on Saturday, February 3, 2024. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service.  Burial will take place following the service at St. Adalbert Cemetery (3801 S. 6th Street, Milwaukee).