Obituary: Irene Louise Carstens Kornegay, 79, The Dalles

Irene was born July 25, 1946, to Lorraine (Hileman) and Earl “Bud” Carstens in Pendleton, Oregon, and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1964. Later that yea,r she enrolled at Eastern Oregon College, majoring in Art where she met her husband of 60 years, Charles “Chuck” Kornegay. The two married in 1965 and welcomed their first daughter in LaGrande. In the summer of 1969, they relocated to The Dalles for Chuck’s teaching job at The Dalles High School. They welcomed two more daughters in 1970 and 1971.

Irene worked at Dry Hollow Elementary as a Playground and Special Education Paraprofessional from 1975 to 1988. In 1988, she was hired as an Executive Office Manager at Columbia Aluminum/Goldendale Aluminum Company. In 1993, she was promoted to Retirement Plan Administrator, where she worked until the plant closed.

Irene enjoyed her retirement and hosting extravagant holiday parties at the house she and her husband built. Her days were spent listening/dancing to rock-n-roll music with her husband, spending time with her grandkids, gardening, designing and decorating her home, and creating elaborate Halloween costumes. Some of her favorite projects were sewing all three daughters’ wedding dresses.

Irene is survived by her husband Chuck, three daughters: Shannon (Tim) Carrier, Kristen (Jai) Ringer, and Dawn Marie (Terry) Hert; five grandchildren: Avery (Nikki) Ringer, Clayton (Elizabeth) Ringer, Charlie Hert, Courtney Hert, and Amber (Matt) Boggs; and three great-granddaughters: Parker, Kinsey and Scarlet; two very special people who were considered her “spare children”: Julia O’Hara-Kock and Bill Dey, numerous nieces, nephews and her best friend of nearly 50 years Roseann Coyle.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, December 13, 2025, from Noon to 3 p.m. at the Bargeway Pub in The Dalles. In lieu of flowers, please consider a Memorial Contribution in Irene’s name to The Dalles Art Center at www.thedallesartcenter.org or mail: 220 E Fourth St, The Dalles, OR 97058.