Irene M Kimmons

Funeral services for Irene M. Kimmons will be conducted from Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Gene Layne, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Irene M. Kimmons, 94 years of age (formerly of the Holdrege area) passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at the Bertrand Nursing Home in Bertrand, Nebraska. Irene was born on December 26, 1913 on the family farm in Phelps County, north of Funk to Owen W. and Hannah G. (Johnson) Jones. Irene received her primary education from the Hayden country school and graduated from Holdrege High School. She then pursued higher education at the Kearney Normal School and taught in a Phelps County rural school.

On June 27, 1934 she was united in marriage to Paul Delmont "Del" Kimmons and to this union three children were born: Paul Roger, Karen Marlene and Lester Owen.

Irene became a converted Christian at the age of thirteen and loved and served her Lord. She was an active member and taught an intermediate Sunday school class for some time at Emmaus Evangelical Free Church north of Funk, where her grandparents were charter members. Blindness became a part of Irene's life in the late 1940's and she was sustained and encouraged by the Lord and His Word with a victory that only Christ can give. Her life verse was Isaiah 41:10, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Irene enjoyed playing the piano, singing, typing letters to missionary's and listening to talking books.

Irene and Del lived on a farm north of Funk for almost thirty years and moved to Holdrege in 1964. Del passed away in October 1974 after a lingering illness. Following the death of her husband, Irene continued to live in her home with full time caregiver, Eva Naiman. In August of 1998, Irene made her home at the Bertrand Nursing Home, where she continued to receive excellent care.

She leaves to celebrate her life, her three children: Paul Kimmons and wife, Margaret of Omaha, Marlene Linthicum and husband, Robert of Upland, California and Lester Kimmons and wife, Mary K. of Omaha; seven grandchildren: Ingrid Kimmons, Eric Kimmons, Susan Wier, Robert Linthicum Jr., Michael Kimmons, Treva Yaccino and Tanya Kuphal; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Anderson of Warsaw, Indiana and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, Del she was preceded in death by her parents.

Irene will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Friday, March 28, 2008 with the family greeting friends from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to Bible's for Mongolia, c/o Global Opportunities for Christ, P.O. Box 4446, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.