John Z. Ivey
A Funeral Service for John Z. Ivey will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Reverend Jan Gluth King officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.
John’s funeral service will be live-streamed and posted to the Bethel Lutheran Church’s Facebook Page. https://www.facebook. com/Bethel.Holdrege/videos/ 1418637438662688
John Z. Ivey, 99 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away, on June 25, 2024, at Ridgeway Senior Living in Lexington, Nebraska. John was born south of Oxford, Nebraska, on January 24, 1925, the youngest of two children, born to William “Allen” and Martha “Mattie” (Stephenson) Ivey.
He was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Oxford and was confirmed and joined Bethel Lutheran Church in 1947. John was devoted to his church and loved to praise his Lord. He received his education from a one-room country elementary school near Oxford at District 79 Morning View School and later attended Mascot High School.
He farmed with his father and later worked as a heavy equipment operator for two years working on the Harlan County Dam. John also worked at Allmand Brothers for several years. He always had a passion for farming and returned to a farm northwest of Holdrege in 1952 and resided there for 22 years. John later bought a new farmstead south of Atlanta where he continued to farm and raise cattle for 17 more years before retiring in 1988. He turned the farm over to his eldest son and he moved to a home north of Holdrege by the Prairie Museum. John always took a lot of interest in the big advances in the new machinery and technology of today’s farmers.
In his lifespan, he has seen from the horse and plow to autonomous machinery.
On June 8, 1947, John was united in marriage to his former Mascot schoolmate, LoDema Jeanette Mohr at Bethel Lutheran Church and they celebrated their 75 th wedding anniversary in 2022.
To this union five children were born: Ronald, Willa, LaNoma, Marvel, and Jon.
John was a devoted member of the Bethel Lutheran Church. He served on the boards of the Holdrege Co-op; Oil, and R-6 School board, and for many years on the board of the Nebraska Prairie Museum. He and LoDema did many hours of volunteer work with the Phelps County Food Pantry and the Nebraska Prairie Museum. John restored his John Deere Model A tractor and graciously donated it to the Nebraska Prairie Museum. The couple also belonged to the Prairie Shufflers Square Dance Club and they had a very special group of friends that traveled around the state to attend dances. John was very active in 4-H volunteering as a leader and helping his children show cattle at various shows.
He was preceded in death by his wife, LoDema in 2022; his parents; two daughters: LaNoma in infancy; and Marvel Borden and her husband Scott; great-granddaughter, Alli Mae Dannull; sister, Willabell Buck and her husband, Charles; sister-in-law, Georgina Rademaker and her husband, Ervin.
John leaves to celebrate his life; his children: Ron Ivey and his wife, Carol of Oxford, Nebraska; Willa Dannull and her husband, Cliff of Holdrege; and Jon Ivey and his wife, Jana of Johnson Lake, Nebraska; grandchildren: Jennie Kreifels of Fremont, Nebraska; Seth Ivey and wife, Leigh of Oxford; Heidi Baily and husband, Craig of Oxford; Holly Holste and husband, Nick of Oxford; Haley Moon and husband, Jeff of Holdrege; Brett Dannull and wife, Katie of Holdrege; Shelby Borden of Elwood; and Aaron Borden and wife, Larissa of Lincoln, Nebraska; 18 greatgrandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
A visitation with family greeting will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege.
A memorial has been established in John’s honor and kindly suggested to the Bethel Lutheran Church.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh. com. The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
