STEELEVILLE, Irene Karlechik, 87, of Steeleville, passed away at 10:40 P.M. Wednesday, March 04, 2009, at Memorial Hospital of Chester in Chester, IL. She was born March 1, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri the daughter of John Trubacik and Elizabeth (Slavik) Trubacik. She married John Karlechik on June 14, 1942 in St. Luca's Church St. Louis, MO. He passed away on January 4, 1988. Irene was a secretary for Stallings School for 23 years, also on the Pontoon Beach Village board for years, and a trustee for Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department of 30 years. She worked for Phoenix Center for Battered Women. Mrs. Karlechik is a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church, Granite City, Illinois where she served as a ladies aid and on the Altar Society. She is survived by; daughter: Judith (Gary) McDonnough of Steeleville, IL; son: Michael (Maribeth) Karlechik of Edwardsville, IL; grandchildren: Jamie Dake, Emilee Karlechik, John Nathaniel Karlechik; great grandchildren: Noah, Lilly, and Jack; Sisters-in-law: Sue LaCroix, Audrey Trubacik, and Dorothy Trubacik. She was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, brothers, Rudolph Karlechik and John Karlechik. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Granite City, Illinois. Rev. Warren Huffines will be officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Edwardsville, Illinois. Visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home, Steeleville on Friday from 6 to 8 pm and on Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Granite City from 10 to 11am. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association or St. John's Building Fund.