- Date Of Birth: February 4, 1954
- Date Of Death: April 1, 2012
- State: Idaho
Irene Cecilia Swanson, 58, of Boise passed away April 1, 2012 in a local hospital following an extended illness. Irene was the third of five children born to Harley J. and Laurabelle Goodwin on February 4, 1954 in Twin Falls, Idaho.
In 1974, she met and married James E. Pedersen and together they had Irene’s only daughter, Mechele, in 1976. Shortly thereafter Irene and James parted ways. Irene moved from Paul, ID to Nampa to raise her daughter while working at the local bean factory, a tailor shop and Victors Lounge. It was while working at Victors as a waitress she met then bartender, Todd D. Winbigler. In the early 80’s they married. During their marriage she followed Todd to Forest Grove, Oregon to complete his optometry schooling and returned to Caldwell, Idaho a few years later. Upon her return to Idaho, Irene worked alongside Todd as an Optician. In 1991 Todd and Irene divorced and she moved to Boise to raise her daughter. In 1996 she met her husband and love of her life, John O. Swanson. They married on October 7, 1999.
Irene will be most remembered for her fiery red-head spirit and strong will. She was never one you would pick an argument with unless you wanted to lose. She loved to be outside working in the roses and never passed up a chance to get out on the water and go fishing.
Irene was preceded in death by her father, Harley J. Goodwin. She is survived by her mother, Laurabelle Goodwin; her husband of 13 years, John Swanson; her three brothers and one sister, Harley Goodwin Jr.
At Irene’s request her family will celebrate her life privately.
