Jill Strong
Jill M. (Gracey) Strong, 77, of Grand Island, Neb., died Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Mitchell County Hospital Health System, in Beloit, Kan., surrounded by her loving family.
The daughter of Dean and Agnes (Apker) Gracey, Jill was born in Lawrence, Kan. on Sept. 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 traveling.
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 with achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Jill retired to be a stayat-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 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 off children at school, practices and other events.
Jill is survived by her two children Allen (Joyce) Strong of Holyoke, Colo. and Kay (Carl) Prather of Beloit, Kan.; grandchildren Brian (Brittany) Strong of Yankton, S.D., Kelly Castillo Prather of Grand Island, Shalynne (DJ) Jenneman of Grand Island,Jynneen (Adam) Hinrikus of Grand Island, Lynndsi Strong of Puyallup, Wash., Kylie Roy of York, Alysia Strong of Beloit, Kan., Caitlin Strong of Alva, Okla., Andrew Prather of Beloit, Kan. and Joe Prather of Beloit, Kan.; 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 sisters Jill (Steve) Boyer of Horseshoe Bend, Ark. and Amy-Jean (Stan) Yee of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; brother John (Judy) Gracey of Cawker City, Kan.; brother-in-law James (Leota) Strong of Ainsworth; step-brother Claris (Charlene) Connely of Broken Bow; step-sister Judith Connely of Spring Valley, Calif. and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; four angel babies; her parents; grandparents; and brother Jerry Gracey.
Funeral services will be at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 followed by a luncheon at the church.
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. The guest book for Jill can be signed online at www. curranfuneralchapel com.