Irene was born to Anna and Joseph Wichman, on the dairy farm belonging to her maternal grandparents about a mile outside of Peoria, Illinois.  Her love of nature and gardening was born there, too.  She completed first grade in Peoria, then following the death of her grandmother and the sale of the farm, the growing family packed up a 7-passenger Studebaker and travelled cross-country to Salem, Oregon in the summer of 1929, camping along the way.  The children were enrolled in Sacred Heart Academy. Among her fond memories was roller-skating up the washboard sidewalks of Center Street to school, past the grand homes that have since been displaced by the Capitol Mall.   Like most mid-Willamette Valley children, her summers were spent picking fruit and hops, along with enjoying picnics and swimming. After graduating high school in 1940, Irene worked in a local cannery while putting herself through business school in the evenings.  Upon completion, she was hired by Capitol City Laundry and worked as a bookkeeper where she got to meet, and get to know, many of the families in town.  She met James Plasker, who was employed by the Cherry City Baking Company, located across from the laundry, and they were wed in 1947. As children began to arrive, Irene switched from office worker to stay-at-home mom.  Together, she and Jim tended and nurtured both their children and their garden.  As a team, they took great pride, pleasure and joy in both endeavors. Irene passed away peacefully and quietly, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, August 17th.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jim in 2003.  She was also preceded in death by her siblings Clarence Wichman, Lillian Albrich, Wilbur Wichman, Robert Wichman, Richard Wichman and Donald Wichman.  She is survived by her siblings, Edward Wichman and Velma Barker of Salem, Oregon and Thomas Wichman of Wisconsin; children, James Plasker (Billie) of Virginia, John Plasker (Vickie) of Washington, William Plasker (Vickie) and Jeanne Boatwright (Corbey) of Salem, Oregon; grandchildren, Joseph Plasker, Michael Plasker, Anna Boatwright and Noah Boatwright. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oregon Public Broadcasting, 7140 SW Macadam Avenue, Portland, OR 97219.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1010 Columbia St. N.E.  Private inurnment will follow at St. Barbara’s Cemetery. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.