Iona Seifer

I ona Seifer, age 90, of McPherson County, passed away at her daughter’s home south of Hershey on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.

Iona was born to Charles and Iva Lunkwitz on the family farm 10 miles northwest of Sutherland on December 11, 1929. She started school at the age of 4 and attended Riverview, a mile from home, then went on to graduate from Sutherland High School in 1946.

Iona started working after high school, she was a telephone operator at Sutherland and worked various other jobs.

On April 30, 1948, Iona married Fred Seifer in North Platte and they enjoyed 72 years of marriage. The couple ranched 30 miles northwest of Sutherland in McPherson County all their lives and raised three children, Connie, Pauline and Dean.

Iona was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She and Fred enjoyed dancing and swimming and she loved her family, especially her grandchildren which were her greatest love.

She is survived by her husband, Fred, and their children, Connie Streiff, of Sutherland, Pauline (John) Blomstedt, of Hershey, and Dean (Sherri) Seifer, of Paxton; 17 grandchildren, Dawn (Brett) Haake, Gina (Jeff) Davis, Lana (Gregg) Klein, Lynn (Jeb) Rhods, Josh (Debbie) Streiff, Roka (Justin) Klein, John (Jessica) Blomstedt, Janet (Ben) Dutton, Jason (Staci) Blomstedt, JoLynn (Lance) Mecham, Jeff (Tasha) Blomstedt, Joseph (Kaylin) Blomstedt, Justin (Jami) Blomstedt, Jordan (Aubrey) Blomstedt, Kate Seifer, Mara (James) Thiessen and Clay (Hannah) Seifer; 45 great-grandchildren and a great great-grandson.

Survivors also include her sister, Rosalin Nielson, of Paxton; and sisters-in-law, Agnes Liggett, of Texas, Alice Morgan and Irene Seifer, of Sutherland, and Adella Lunkwitz, of Monument, KS; as well as many other family members.

Iona was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Iva Lunkwitz; brothers, Charlie, Bill, Roy, Irven and Frank; sisters, Lilly (Dale) Lavaley and Eunice (Gene) Hamlett; brothers-in-law, Paul Seifer, Bert Bosch, Harry Hokenson, Charles Morgan, Edgar King, Eugene King, Harold Liggett and Tom Nielson; sisters-in-law, Esther Bosch, Martha King, Helene Hokenson and Florence Lunkwitz; and son-in-law, John D. Streiff.

Please Note Service Times Have Changed: Family will gather Outside at Odean Colonial Chapel at 1 p.m., Friday, October 2, for a Celebration of Life.  Please bring your own chair.  Committal service with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.  Cremation was chosen and Fred and Iona will be buried together.  The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are to New Life Lutheran Church of Paxton.  For those unable to attend the service, it will be recorded and posted to the website.