By Julia McCord, World Herald Staff Writer

Blair, Neb. – When Lyle Stern first met Iona Jean Heikes at Wayne, Neb., he was smitten. Black hair. Brown eyes. A kind and considerate nature. It also didn’t hurt that she was “a darn good cook”, he said. “I had many a good meal”.

They were married in 1955. Monday she died of kidney failure at Creighton University Medical Center, her husband said. Iona Stern was 76 and had battled heart problems, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. “She just finally gave out”, Lyle Stern said.

Iona Stern grew up in Wayne, Neb., studied nursing at Wayne State College and went to work at Mutual of Omaha until her children were born.

After the Sterns moved to Blair in 1960, she worked as a teller and personal banker at Blair Bank (now U.S. Bank) for 23 years. “She was in the bank for so many years that everybody knew her,” said her sister, Evelyn Brazil of Blair. “Everyone wanted Iona to wait on them.”

A friendly, thoughtful woman, Iona Stern loved to square dance. After her first heart attack in 1984, she chose the quieter pursuits of crossword puzzles and dominoes.

Services were to be held Thursday at First Lutheran Church in Blair.

Other survivors include daughters Nancy Hart and Connie Petersen, both of Omaha; sister Rayoma Andres of Bella Vista, Ark.; and three grandchildren.

#2 obituary printed in the April 4, 2003 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Iona Jean Stern, 76

Iona Jean Stern, 76, of Blair, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at Creighton University Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home.

Iona Jean Stern was born July 11, 1926, in Wayne to Charles and Minnie (Bartels) Heikes.

She married Lyle Stern on May 29, 1955.

She worked at FirsTier Bank in Blair for 23 years as a personal banker and had resided in Blair since 1960.

She enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the Spinning Wheels Square Dance Club. She enjoyed cooking, doing crossword puzzles and playing games. She was a member of First Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her husband, Lyle; two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Andrew Hart, and Connie and Randall Petersen, all of Omaha; three grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn Brazil of Blair and Raymona Andrews of Bella Vista, Ark.; sister-in-law, Violet Heikes of Cornelius, Ore.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Everett and Stanley Heikes.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

#3 obituary printed in the April 1, 2003 Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska

STERN—Iona Jean, age 76 yrs., Blair. Survived by husband, Lyle; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Andrew Hart, Omaha, Connie and Randal Petersen, Omaha; 3 grandchildren; 2 sisters, Evelyn Brazil, Blair, Raymona Andrews, Bella Vista, AR; sister-in-law, Violet Heikes, Cornelius, OR.

SERVICES Thurs, 2 pm, First Lutheran Church, Blair. Burial Blair Cemetery. VISITATION begins 10am Wed., with Prayer Service 7 pm at Funeral Home.

CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME, Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#4 Funeral Leaflet

(photos)

In Loving Memory of Iona Jean Stern

Wife, Mother, Grandma, Sister and Friend

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”-2 Timothy 4:7

Born on July 11, 1926 Wayne, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest on March 31, 2003 Omaha, Nebraska

Survived by her husband of 47 years, Lyle E. Stern; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Andrew Hart; daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Randal Petersen-grandchildren: Jessica, Corey and Kiley Petersen; Sisters: Evelyn Brazil and Rayoma Andrews; Sister-in-law, Violet Heikes.

Preceded in death by parents, Charles and Minnie Heikes; brothers, Everett and Stanley Heikes.

“That thy faith fail not”

My faith is all I have today, since my dear one has passed away.
As I cling to it in my grief and lean on it for my relief.
I cannot feel this is the end but on Faith, Hope and Love depend.
I’ll spend those darkened lonely hours and relive memories of ours,
Until we two shall meet again.

Service Thursday, April 3, 2003 at Two o’clock pm. First Lutheran Church, 2146 Wright, Blair, NE 68008. Rev. Walt Behrens, Rev. James Hart. Concluding service: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska.

Pallbearers: Larry Andrews, Dennis Bargman, Don Bougous, Roger Graff, Larry Mundt, Terry Thompson

Honorary Pallbearers: Clair and Gwen McKinnis, Lloyd and Elaine Warren, Paul and Beverly Warren, Berkley and Grace Wolf, Lyle and Midge Wolf, Cathy Anderson, Myrna Shald, Coletta Trotter.

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave Memorial #7482918