Irene Jones, 88, formerly of Rising City, died Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Brookestone Meadows in Elkhorn.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 10:30am at First Lutheran Church, Rising City Rev. Evan Christensen as Officiant. Visitation will be Tuesday 9-10:00am. Committal in Circle Mound Cemetery. Lunch following in the church hall. Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church. Kracl Funeral Chapel of David City in charge of arrangements.
Irene was born on January 3, 1936 to John and Hildegard (Rathje) Martens in Rising City, Nebraska. She was one of 7 children, born and raised on their family farm just south of Rising City. She enjoyed sharing numerous stories of her and her siblings’ adventures growing up on the farm. She attended Rising City High School and lived in the Rising City area thereafter.
On February 14, 1955 she married Gary Jones at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Rising City Together they raised two sons, Dean and Dan, and a daughter, Julie. Irene spent many years as a homemaker, caring for her children and helping Gary farm. They were long time members of First Lutheran Church in Rising City. When their children were older, she worked at David Place Nursing Home, retiring in November of 1998.
Irene loved the outdoors and working in her flower garden. When winter was in full swing, she spent much of her time decorating her home with flowers and baking delicious treats for her family and friends. She enjoyed hosting holidays for her family and spoiling her grandchildren with cinnamon rolls and chocolate pies.
Irene is survived by her sons, Dean of David City and Dan of Utah, and her daughter Julie (Jones) Kamphaus and son-in-law Kevin of Omaha; grandchildren Debbie (Jones) Potter and husband Ben, Nathan Jones, Jamie (Jones) Nicolay and husband Caleb, Andy Jones and wife Samantha, and A.J. Kamphaus. Irene is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gary, siblings Lawrence, Ruth, Harold, Louis and Luella, and grandson Brandon.