Irene (Merkle) Jeas, 89, of Northborough, , died Friday, October 3rd at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester. She was the wife of Colonel William C. Jeas (USAF ret.), who pre-deceased her in May 2024. Irene, originally of Marquette Michigan, leaves her son, Dean Jeas and his wife, Christine of Laconia, New Hampshire, her granddaughter, Katherine (Jeas) Sullivan and her husband, Dan, and her great granddaughter, Natalie Sullivan all of Rochester, New Hampshire. She also leaves her brother, George Merkle of St Louis, Missouri, her sister, Katherine (Merkle) Lambros of Marquette, Michigan, and four nieces, and two nephews.
Irene was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, the daughter of Michael and Bertha {Lakes} Merkle. The family then settled in Marquette, Michigan, where they owned and operated restaurants that served the community well for many years. Irene graduated from Graveraet High school in Marquette in 1954. Later that year, she enrolled at Michigan State University, and a year later, went to Athens to attend The Asakion School for girls, with her sister. In 1985 she and her husband retired to Northborough, making it their home for the past 40 years.
While visiting family in Pensacola, Florida, she met her future husband, William, who was a USNA Midshipman in Florida for flight training. They married in 1961 upon Bill's graduation and spent the next 25 yrs as a USAF family, traveling around the country and living in numerous states. Irene took pride in her active support of her husband and the USAF, joining the Officer's Wives Club, a group that was a key part of support for base life military families. Irene was a member of various philanthropic groups during her life, to include, The Daughters of Penelope, and The Order of the Eastern Star.; and had been a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester.
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 15th at 10:30 a.m. in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1023 Russell Street, Worcester. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, MA. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 9:30 until the time of the service in the Cathedral. O'CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family with arrangements.