Irene Peckham

Irene Peckham, age 88 of Rantoul, Kansas, died Sunday, October 25, 2009 at Wellsville Retirement Community in Wellsville, KS. She was born on Monday, January 17, 1921 in Blue Mound, KS. She was the daughter of Charles Marshall and Ethel Amelia (Bingham) Northway. Irene grew up in Blue Mound and lived in Mound City, KS after her graduation from high school. She moved to Rantoul in 1943. She graduated from Blue Mound High School with the class of 1938 and attended Fort Scott Junior College and Pittsburg Teachers College. Irene was a homemaker. She taught school for six years in Linn County and Franklin County from 1940 until 1946. Irene was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Wellsville where she was organist for almost 50 years. She later became a member of Rantoul Community Presbyterian Church and attended Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa. She was a member of a Homemaker Extension Unit for over fifty years, Farm Bureau Women's chairperson for a few years, 4-H Club leader. She was an active member of the American Baptist Women. She was a lifelong member of the Ottawa Promenaders Square Dance Club, and a charter member of the Ottawa Quilters Guild. Over her 25 years of quilting she quilted 63 full size quilts and 33 baby quilts, all hand stitched. In 1997 the Ottawa Art Guild held a showing of her quilts. On December 22, 1944, Irene was united in marriage with James K. Peckham at Mound City, Kansas. He preceded her in death on April 4, 2006. Irene is survived by her Son-Charles Allen Peckham of Atwood, Ks. Son-Harry Peckham of Rantoul, Ks. Daughter-Linda Peckham of Lawrence, Ks. Seven-Grandchildren Sixteen-Great Grandchildren One-Great-Great Grandchildren She was preceded in death by her: Mother-Ethel Amelia Northway Father-Charles Marshall Northway Sister-Betty Jo Northway Sister-Ethel Leone Schmidt Sister-Mary Herrmann SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary, 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 30, 2009. IN STATE: Mrs. Peckham will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 1:00 p.m. Wednesday to the service hour where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8 Thursday evening. CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to Midland Hospice or Rantoul Community Presbyterian Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.