- Date Of Birth: May 12, 1935
- Date Of Death: March 25, 2019
- Spouse: Ralph G. Baranow
- Resting Place: Eagle River
- City: Ashland
- State: Wisconsin
Long-time Eagle River, Alaska, resident Irene Mae Baranow passed away peacefully at her home on March 25, 2019, surrounded by her children, family and friends.
Mrs. Baranow, known to generations as “”Mrs. B,”” was born on May 12, 1935, to Richard and Irene McKinnon in Ashland, Wis. She graduated high school in Ashland and married Ralph G. Baranow, her high school sweetheart and celebrated 58 years of marriage in June 2012, before Mr. Baranow passed away in 2013. After a short residence in San Juan Puerto following her husband’s military service in the Navy, the Baranows moved to Alaska in 1959, where they initially lived in South Anchorage and the DeBarr Road area. Following the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, the family moved to Eagle River, where she and Mr. Baranow raised their three sons, David, Richard and Gregory, and their daughter, Barbara. Together with her husband, Mrs. Baranow was instrumental in forming the first Cub Scout Pack in Eagle River, Pack 223, while providing child care for many, many children in the community, and she was very active in the parish community at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and the PTA at almost all of the local schools. She made countless cupcakes and planned decades of classroom parties as a sought after “”room mother.”” Mrs. B. also enjoyed traveling the world, visiting Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Europe, in addition to many adventures across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
She remained active in many organized and personal charities until she left us to go home to heaven. Ms. Baranow leaves her four children; and five grandchildren, Courtney Williams, Ashley James, Leif Baranow, and Reef and Jacaranda Rubacher; sisters, Judith Kachel and Debbie Sporer; together with many cousins and beloved family relations. She also leaves literally hundreds of Eagle River children who grew up under her loving attention and care.
