Ione A. Martens
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island. Dan Naranjo will officiate. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Bethany Cemetery near Carroll, NE.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Ion Martens was born on March 30, 1927 in Wayne County, NE to Gwilym and Ruth (Gray) Jones. She attended school in Lead, S.D., and graduated from Carroll High School in Nebraska. She attended Doane College and graduated in 1948.
She married Irvin Martens in 1949. They lived in Clarks, Nelson, Lincoln, Omaha, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Schuyler. They had two daughters. Their marriage was dissolved in 1973.
She taught High School English in Wahoo, Schuyler, Central City, and at Grand Island Senior High where she retired in 1989. After she retired, she was active in YWCA, United Way, AARP, First Presbyterian Church, Eagles Auxiliary, and Retired Teachers. She conducted a reading group for members of the YWCA and residents of Riverside Lodge. She also wrote a short novel titled “The Savor of the Salt” in 1994. Her favorite activity was dancing. She also enjoyed golf and table tennis.
Ione is survived by her two daughters, Sue Heffner of North Platte and Sally Anderson and her husband, Greg Anderson of Grand Island.
Other survivors are her grandchildren, Clint Heffner of Omaha, Ryan Heffner of Kearney, Noah Anderson and wife, Lisa of Omaha, and Scott Anderson of Omaha; her great grandchildren, Kelsey Heffner, Abby Heffner, and Bethany Anderson; and her brother, Lynn Jones and wife, Sharon of Denver, CO.
Ione was welcomed into heaven by her parents, Gwilym and Ruth Jones; brother Alverne Jones and wife, Edyth; her special friend, Bill Gulzow and three infant great grandsons, Jacob, Nolan and Cody Heffner.
Memorials are suggested to GISH Academic Aristocrat fund for Scholarships.