Jill Strong
Jill Mae (Gracey) Strong, 77, of Grand Island, Nebraska, died April 16, 2022, at Mitchell County Hospital Health System in Beloit, Kansas. The daughter of Dean and Agnes (Apker) Gracey, Jill was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sept. 9, 1944.
She attended school and graduated from Broken Bow (Nebraska) High School with 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, Nebraska. 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 died. They went hunting, fishing and traveling together.
Jill loved working with young people and served as a coach, trip sponsor, classroom mentor, driver, and leader for Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. She assisted 10 young men with achieving 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 15 years she had 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 of children at school, practices and other events.
Jill is survived by her two children, Allen and Joyce Strong of Holyoke and Kay and Carl Prather of Beloit, Kansas; grandchildren, Brian and Brittany Strong of Yankton, S.D., Kelly Castillo Prather of Grand Island, Shalynne and DJ Jenneman of Grand Island, Jynneen and Adam Hinrikus of Grand Island, Lynndsi Strong of Puyallup, Washington, Kylie Roy of York, Nebraska, Alysia Strong of Beloit, Caitlin Strong of Alva, Oklahoma, Andrew Prather of Beloit and Joe Prather of Beloit; 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; two loving sisters, Jill and Steve Boyer of Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, and Amy-Jean and Stan Yee of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; brother, John and Judy Gracey of Cawker City, Kansas; brother-in-law, James and Leota Strong of Ainsworth, Nebraska; stepbrother, Claris and Charlene Connely of Broken Bow; stepsister, Judith Connely of Spring Valley, California; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; four angel babies; her parents and grandparents; and brother, Jerry Gracey.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Grand Island, Nebraska, followed by a luncheon at the church.
Memorials are suggested to support organ and tissue donation in Nebraska through Live On Nebraska, 3867 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE 68105; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1515 South Harrison, Grand Island, NE 68803; or a charity of the donor’s choice.