Irene Nancy (Lowe) Keenan

Irene Nancy (Lowe) Keenan, “Waakejaherej”- Belongs up there, passed away on August 25,

2024. Irene was born at home like her siblings, to Martin and Mabel (Davis) Lowe October 8,
2025. 
      She grew up in a much remembered log cabin just outside of the Indian Mission near Black River Falls. The stories paint an almost magical world that is long gone now. After high
      school she considered learning the ways of her mother Mabel Lowe, like basket making but
      Mabel said that things are different now and you have to find another way. She joined the Air
      Force where she met Leo Keenan. They married and she followed his travels around the county
      and world within the Air Force and started a family. When Leo was deployed to Southeast Asia
      in the sixties and Irene came back to the Mission with her three children. It wasn’t too long
      before she started to get involved with the beginnings of the Tribal Government and started her
      long journey of working with and for the Ho-Chunk Nation. Her last and perhaps her most
      important role was a couple of decades of work in the Tribal Language Program where she
      nurtured the seeds of future Ho-Chunk speakers and teachers. She was most content being with
      her family and in the presence of tribal members, laughing and telling stories. She will be
      remembered by the many lives she touched.
      She is preceded in death by her husband, Leo Keenan, her parents Martin and Mabel (Davis) Lowe, her brother Clifford Lowe, sister Arvina Thayer, brother Raymond Lowe, her youngest brother Truman Lowe, and her childhood sidekick cousin Bill O’Brien. 
      She is survived by her children, Joseph (Page) Keenan, Christopher (Lori) Keenan, and Irene Keenan Jr.,; older brother, Chloris Lowe Sr.; Grand Children, Deana (Ken) Mitch, Ava (Jeremiah) Mitchell and Jack Keenan; Great-Grandchildren, Calvin Mitch, Rowan Mitch, Ephraim Mitchell and Charis Mitchell; along with many honorary adopted children.

Funeral services for Irene will take place Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the Buswell Funeral
Home at 2:00 pm. Reverend David McBride will officiate. Friends and family are invited to
visitation from 12:00 p.m. until time of service. Following the service will be a meal at the
District One Center.

The Buswell Funeral Home is assisting the family with final arrangements, 715-284-2231.