Irene C. Milgrom (Johnson) died in her family home on Sunday December 10, 2023, at the ripe young age of 91. Irene was born on March 3, 1932, to Deborah and Lawrence Johnson in San Francisco, CA. She would often describe her childhood as being full of love, enjoying picnics outside, drawing, and playing with her friends. She loved to tell the story of meeting the one love of her life, Fred Milgrom, on a double date. The punch line of the story was that Fred wasn’t “her date” on this double date, but she did end up with him. They started dating while both attending Fresno High School. Married Fred after boot camp and then he departed to serve in the Korean War.
She was very proud of the life she started with Fred in Turlock, CA, where they were able to build not only a chicken business at home, but their small family. The only thing to compete with her love for her husband was their four children Linda, Bonnie, Bruce, and Glenn. There was always a story to tell of picking up eggs, pigs and sheep getting out, or all the children in the neighborhood (including hers) being up to no good, thus deeming their home “Confusion Farm”. Irene’s favorite activities were feeding every stray cat, reading the last page in books first to determine if she really wanted to read that book, traveling with and to family, playing cards, baking cookies or apple pie, writing letters to her granddaughter, collecting Tinkerbell memorabilia, and daily conversations with her closest friend, Lee. Her happiest place was to be with family and watching her family of 6 grow their own families. Thus allowing her to be a mother to 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and, “GG” to 10 great-grandchildren.
Irene is preceded in death by her husband Fred Milgrom, brother Lawrence Johnson, eldest daughter Linda Crabtree and son-in-laws Keith Crabtree and Tom Vincent. She is survived by daughter Bonnie Vincent, son Bruce Milgrom (Barbara), son Glenn Milgrom, all 8 of her grandchildren (James and Matthew Vincent, Kate Baker, Zack Milgrom, Michael, Brian and Lisa Crabtree, and Kurtis Milgrom), and all 10 of her great-grandchildren (Allegra, Scarlett, Ransom, Nolan, Olivia, Charlie, Uma, Magnus, Lane, Koston).
Irene was a Turlock Women's Club Charter Member and a Girl and Cub Scout Leader and was very involved in the Parent-Teacher Association in the local schools.
All are welcome to join family and friends on Thursday, December 21 at 10:00 am for a graveside service at Lakewood Funeral Home and Memorial Park at 900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA, to honor and celebrate the life of Irene. To share a memory of Irene or send a condolence to her family please visit Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service. Arrangements by Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Mortuary.
