Iona (Whitney) Hummell

Iona: A Life of Craft, Cultivation, and Quiet Strength

Daughter of Charles and Sybil (Mason) Whitney.

Graduated from Franklin High School with the Class of 1949.

Married William G. Hummell in 1950; he passed from this life in 1991. Also preceded in death by son Thomas Hummell and brother Donald Whitney.

Survivors include her daughters: Susan (Mark) Peterson, Kelly Strahan, Holly (Mike, deceased) Coffee, Merry (David Schlehuber) Hummell; her grandchildren: Lance Peterson, Jackie Tomasino, Stephanie Strahan, Jessica Measdowcroft, Michael Coffee, Heather Coffee, Elizabeth Coffee, Jennifer Coffee, and Emily Schlehuber.

Iona was a lifelong sewer whose work was a testament to her love and exacting standards. She dotingly crafted clothing for her four daughters throughout their childhoods, including memorable sets of matching Christmas pajamas. Her dedication to the craft extended into her early nineties as a quilter. A true perfectionist, she was known to "rip-out" stitching that didn't meet her high bar. While living in McMinnville, Oregon, she found community and made lifelong friends as a member of the McMinnville Senior Center sewing club. Alongside her fellow enthusiasts, she channeled her skill into creating quilts for organizations supporting children and adults in need of the comfort that only a handmade blanket can provide.

Beyond the sewing room, Iona possessed an enviably green thumb. Her homes were always filled with thriving greenery; a reflection of the nurturing touch that made every plant she cared for flourish. She was also a dedicated steward of the family gardens diligently picking, preserving, canning, freezing, and storing all the many varieties of vegetables they produced. Even in her later years, she continued to cultivate garden beds that yielded impressive bumper crops of potatoes and tomatoes. Keeping fresh food on the table, feeding the body and souls of both family and friends was a constant for Iona.

Her quiet and polite demeanor was matched by an inner toughness that earned her lasting respect. One of her sons-in-law summed it up perfectly, describing her as " 98 pounds of gristle - tough as a boot". Her light and lively laugh will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Iona will be laid to rest by her husband William in Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin, Nebraska. Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, Nebraska assisted the Hummell family with these arrangements.