IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Jill M.
Strong
September 9, 1944 – April 16, 2022
Obituary
Jill Mae (Gracey) Strong, 77, of Grand Island, NE, died Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Mitchell County Hospital Health System, in Beloit, KS, surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral services will be held at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island, Nebraska, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pastor Bill Pavuk and Deacon Frances Hall will officiate. The service will be followed by a luncheon at the church. Register book signing will be Thursday and Friday from 9 to 4 at Curran Funeral Chapel.
The daughter of Dean and Agnes (Apker) Gracey, Jill was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 9, 1944. She attended school and graduated from Broken Bow High School in the Class of 1963. After high school, Jill married Wayne Strong in January 1964, and they began their married life working as ranch hands in Cherry County. Along with raising two children, Jill and Wayne operated Rite-Way Fertilizer, a fertilizer and agri-chemical business in Broken Bow, serving farmers in the area for more than 30 years.
Wayne was the love of her life and they enjoyed 38 years of marriage before Wayne passed away. Together, they went hunting, fishing, and travelling.
Jill loved working with young people and served as a coach, trip sponsor, classroom mentor, driver, and as a leader for Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. She assisted 10 young men achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Jill retired to be a stay-at-home grandma and helped with foster and adopted children in the family and provided respite care for other foster and adoptive families. The past fifteen years she has been devoted to caring for her own great grandchildren and a few extra "grands" she claimed through babysitting duties.
She attended many many music programs, sporting events, church activities, dance programs, graduations, and award ceremonies and drove countless miles picking up and dropping off children at school, practices, and other events.
Jill is survived by her two children: Allen (Joyce) Strong of Holyoke, Colorado, and Kay (Carl) Prather of Beloit, Kansas.
Grandchildren: Brian (Brittany) Strong of Yankton, S.D.; Kelly Castillo Prather of Grand Island, NE; Shalynne (DJ) Jenneman of Grand Island, NE; Jynneen (Adam) Hinrikus of Grand Island, NE; Lynndsi Strong of Puyallup, WA; Kylie Roy of York, NE; Alysia Strong of Beloit, KS; Caitlin Strong of Alva, OK; Andrew Prather of Beloit, KS; and Joe Prather of Beloit, KS.
Great Grandchildren: Kelsey Castillo, Gatley Wichyoah, Gabriella Jenneman, Langh Wichyoah, Kelvin Castillo, Logan Hinrikus, Mathouk Wichyoah, Jayson Strong, Johnna Wichyoah, Jaiden Salas, MaKenna Jenneman, Ayden Thichuong, Pal Thichuong, Layne Hinrikus, Tatum Jenneman, Addyson Serrano Prather, Josiah Garza, Lance Hinrikus, Zayne Jenneman, and Dawsyn Strong.
Jill is survived by two loving sisters, Jill (Steve) Boyer of Horseshoe Bend, AR; Amy-Jean (Stan) Yee of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; brother John (Judy) Gracey of Cawker City, KS; brother-in-law James (Leota) Strong of Ainsworth, NE; Step-brother, Claris (Charlene) Connely of Broken Bow; Step-sister, Judith Connely of Spring Valley, CA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, four angel babies, her parents, grandparents, and brother Jerry Gracey.
Memorials are suggested to support organ and tissue donation in Nebraska through:Live On Nebraska, 3867 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, NE 68105; or St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 1515 South Harrison, Grand Island, NE 68803; or Donor's Choice.
Curran Funeral Home is assisting the family. Your encouraged to sign Jill's guestbook at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under her obituary.
Celebration of Life Gathering
St. Paul's Lutheran Chruch
Saturday, April 30, 2022
11:00 AM
1515 S. Harrison St.
Grand Island, Ne 68801
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jill M. Strong, please visit our flower store.
Jill M. Strong's Guestbook
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