Irene  Belle Peer, 100, of Gardner passed away at Healthcare Resort of Olathe on July 10, 2022.  Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022 with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Bruce Funeral Home106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas 66030 (913-856-7111). Burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, Olathe, Kansas.   In lieu of flowers, one may consider a donation to Quilts of Valor at www.qovf.org/donate, or Kansas University Cancer Center, at www.kucancercenter.org/give. Memorial gifts may be made to a local charity of your choice.  Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com

Irene was born April 1, 1922 in Bonita, Kansas to Allen M. and Ruby (Dunham) Eastland. She was a lifelong Johnson County resident, living in Olathe, Edgerton, SpringHill and at Gardner Lake.  Irene graduated from Edgerton High School in 1938.  Irene married Jess Preston Peer August 7, 1938 in Liberty, Missouri. Irene retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after 23 years of service, beginning as a switchboard operator, then in the Olathe Business Office.  It was a busy retirement as she began her own ceramics shop and worked with her sister catering weddings and special occasions. An accomplished seamstress from an early age, she also loved quilting, china painting and crafts of every description.   In her “spare” time, Irene served for several years as a relief house supervisor for Faith Village, Gardner.  She was a long-time member of both the Edgerton Methodist Church and the Spring Hill Morning Grange, and served as secretary for the Gardner Lake Association for several years.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Morris, Francis, Dale and Harold Eastland and sister Nadine Eastland Paulsen; grandson Scott Peer, and son-in-law Dale Hawk.  She is survived by daughter Judy Hawk (Dale), Mesa, Az., and son Larry D. Peer (Sherry) of Olathe, Kansas; sister: Sue Pickell, Las Vegas, Nevada; grandchildren Larry Peer Jr of the home, Christine Morgan (Arthur), San Antonio, TX, and Gregory Hawk (Connie), Camdenton, MO; four great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, as well as numerous Eastland and Peer nieces and nephews, including special family and loving care givers Nancy and Walt Bickley.