Irene Kats, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away September 9, 2026, at the age of 83.

Irene was born in Prairie View on April 21, 1943, to Peter and Maxine Schemper. She married her husband, Sherlyn, on November 27, 1964. In 1975, they moved to Phillipsburg, and Sherlyn purchased Winchell’s. Irene spent time raising her kids and owning her own women’s clothing store, Kats Klassics, for years. In 1996, Sherlyn and Irene moved to the farm north of Stockton. When Sherlyn was working at the Osborne Sale Barn, she did as well, working hard in the cafeteria, feeding all who were there. She continued serving others throughout her life and was with the Red Cross from January 2014 to October 2019, and she specialized in disaster relief and recovery. Sherlyn and Irene moved to Spring Hill, Kansas, in 2019.

Irene loved being outdoors, gardening, and helping with the farm. She also took immense pride in her family, and she had a big soft spot for her four grandchildren, driving hundreds of miles and watching every basketball game, track meet, dance recital, school play, and milestone. Over the last eight years, that soft spot grew to include her great-grandchildren Carolina and Silas. She made it to many dance recitals and events for Carolina!

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Maxine Schemper, husband, Sherlyn, her son Sheldon Kats, her brother Howard Schemper, her brother-in-law Marvin Vanderveen, and her daughter-in-law Michele Kats.

Irene is survived by her son Tim Kats of Bucyrus, Kansas, her granddaughters Lauren Cook and her husband Austin of Stilwell, Kansas, and Elyse Kats of Park City, Utah, and her great-granddaughter, Carolina Cook. Her daughter Candace Sage and her husband Scott Sage of Phillipsburg, Kansas, her grandsons Stephen Sage and his wife Hillary of Hill City, Kansas, and Samuel Sage of Phillipsburg, Kansas, and her great-grandson Silas Sage. She is also survived by her two sisters, Wauneta Vanderveen of Prairie View, Kansas, Verda Brown and husband, Larry of Prairie View, Kansas, and her brother Gene Schemper of Norton, Kansas, and her sister-in-law Kathleen Schemper of Norton, Kansas.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 14, 2026, at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, officiated by Reverend Ashley Morgan-Kirk from Kansas City. The burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Arrangements were made by Hugunin Family Funeral Homes, Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, KS