Irene Marietta Wagar was born in Bergland, Michigan, on May 14, 1924, to Anna (Salminen) Wagar and Lauri I. Wagar. Her family later moved to Ontonagon where she remained until she left this earth on August 14, 2010, to join her beloved husband and parents who preceded her in death.

Irene was graduated from Ontonagon Township High School in 1942 and from Del Mar Beauty School, Detroit, Michigan in 1943. Upon graduating from Del Mar, she returned to Ontonagon and began her first business venture-- a beauty salon. She married the love of her life, Harold Burns Goulet, on June 22, 1946, and then continued her entrepreneurial spirit in 1950 by opening a retail shoe store on River Street. Irene transitioned her business, Wagar's, to a larger River Street location in 1956, focusing on women's and children's clothing, giftware, and Finnish glassware and textiles. The choice of goods provided and services offered at Wagar's made "the store" a familiar stop for locals, customers around the U.P., and repeat visitors to the area. Her list of friends and acquaintances crossed continents.

Irene Goulet lived the philosophy of "giving back to the community" she loved, and she touched many lives with her generosity and concern. She remained active in the Ontonagon business community until her retirement in 1998 after which she turned her attention to the Ontonagon Historical Society and museum where she volunteered. Her vivid memories enabled her to serve as the "go-to" person for information about Ontonagon businesses and residents from the 1930s onward.

In addition to her pride in Ontonagon, Irene was proud of her Finnish heritage and took great pleasure in showcasing the country's products in her store. She visited Finland several times over the years and was as comfortable among her relatives in Finland as she was among the people of Ontonagon. For those who knew her, she was the embodiment of Finnish SISU.

Her departure leaves a heartfelt void in the lives of her daughter, Michele Goulet Miller; granddaughters, Lea Goulet Miller and Anna Goulet Miller; her most special extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews in the United States and in Finland; and her North Dakota family, Sandra (Curt) Williams and Sandra's children Scott Williams, Tara (Jason) Pruett, and Alyson (Bobby) Preston.

Funeral services will take place Monday, August 16th at 11 a.m. at the Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday morning from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.