Irene Clarice Kringle

Madison: Irene Clarice Kringle, age 96, died on May 31, 2025, at Oakwood West. She was born on January 23, 1929, in rural Stratford, Wisconsin. The daughter of Clarence and Eva (Punswick) Hougum.

She married Ramon Schoenewe of Everly, Iowa on May 19, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. He preceded her in death on April 15, 1961. She married Kenneth Kringle on June 10, 1972, in Madison, Wisconsin. He preceded her in death on May 14, 1996.

Irene graduated from Stratford High School as Valedictorian in 1946, received a B.A. from St. Olaf College in 1950, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of South Dakota in 1957. She taught high school in Everly, Iowa and Tigerton, Wisconsin. In 1961 she came to Madison and worked at the University of Wisconsin Department of Urban and Regional Planning until her retirement in 1994. She was a long time member of Bethel Lutheran Church, a member of Bethel choir for 49 years, and the recorder for Bethel Horizons Foundation for 37 years.

She is survived by a step-daughter, Crescent Kringle of Madison, Wisconsin, two step-granddaughters, RaeAnn and Crescent Kringle, and a step-great granddaughter, Irene of Opp Alabama; three sisters, Evonna Cheetham and Victoria Brown both of Madison, Wisconsin, and Dr. Karen Hamblen of Eugene Oregon; and a sister-in-law Carol Richardson of Wausau, Wisconsin.

Besides her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by a step-son, Scott Kringle; a sister, Betty Casanova; brothers Howard and Maurice Hougum; brothers-in-law, Lyle Casanova, Robert Cheetham, and Ronald Hamblen; sister-in-law Sylvia Hougum; niece Carrie Kutzler; and nephews Grant, Scott, and Brent Casanova.

Services will be held Friday, June 13, at 11am at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin with the Reverend Dave Wrightsman officiating. Visitation will be from 10-11 am. Burial will be in section Rose Lawn at the North Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Spencer, Iowa beside her first husband.

The family suggests memorials be made to Bethel Horizons (https://bethelhorizons.org/give/) or Bethel Lutheran Church Music Ministry.

Cress Funeral Home

608-238-3434