OKONES, Henry 1905-1978

OKONES, NEDERHOFF, RIEKENA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/7/2013 at 11:49:12

Henry Okones, Lifelong Area Resident, Dead

Henry Okones died early Sunday morning at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo following a lingering illness.

He had been a patient there since Thursday. Henry lived to the age of 73 years, eight months and 8 days.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. this Wednesday at the Second Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg with Rev. John H. Elenbaas officiating. Burial was in the Shiloh township cemetery.

Doyen Funeral Home of Wellsburg was in charge of arrangements.

Casket bearers were Rick Nederhoff, Mark Nederhoff, Kent Nederhoff, Dick Okones, Scott Diekman and Robert Diekman, all grandsons of the deceased.

Special music was provided by Mrs. Ivan Slifer and Mrs. Harold Okones, and organist Mrs. LuRay Neessen. Mrs. Meint Bakker and Mrs. Arnold Arends were flower attendants.

He was born on a farm in Shiloh Township, southeast of Wellsburg, on January 30, 1905, the son of Harm & Anke (Nederhoff) Okones. He attended the rural school in the area. On August 20, 1930, he was united in marriage to Nettie Riekena at Missoula, Montana. Following their marriage they made their home in Wellsburg. He worked for many years on the John Ross Road Construction Crew and later farmed on the Okones home-place until 1955. In 1957 he began working for the Wellsburg Community School District as a bus driver and mechanic until ill health foreced him to retire in December of 1970.

Henry was a member of the Second Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg having joined by confession of faith on December 30, 1936, and has served on the church consistory.

Preceding him in death were: his parents, one grandson, Michael Lewis Okones and one granddaughter, Toni Lee Okones.

Those left to mourn his passing are: his wife, Nettie; two daughters and one son, (Rhea), Mrs. Willis Nederhoff of Wellsburg; Stanley Okones of Wellsburg; (Janice), Mrs. Wayne Diekman of Aplington; 11 grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers, Neil Okones, Sr. of Wellsburg; (Anna), Mrs. Ben Murra of Ackley; (Mathilda), Mrs. Jake B. Engelkes of Wellsburg; Herman Okones of Clear Lake and many other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 12 October 1978, section 2, pg 1