Ilef J. Vance Jr. April 15, 1924 to August 30, 2013

Ilef J. Vance Jr,  the son of Ilef Sr and Jesse (Hite) Vance,  was born April 15, 1924 on a farm four miles northwest of Bladen, Nebraska. He departed this life on Friday, August 30, 2013 at the Bickford Living Facility in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 89 years and 4 months and 13 days.

Ilef received his formal education by attending the Bladen High School, graduating with the class of 1940. On March 17, 1945, he was united in marriage to Melba Turner in Hastings, Nebraska. This union was blessed with the birth of three children: Ronald, Gaylen and Marilyn. The couple made their home farming in the Bladen area and in 1974, moved into town to live. Ilef was a member of the United Methodist Church; served on the Bladen School Board, Webster County Fair Board, County Extension Board and NRD Board and was an EMT with the Bladen Fire Department.

His greatest love and enthusiasm in life was for his wife, family and farm activities. His other love was the EMT service to the community, as he wanted to give his life to save a life if he could. It also gave him a chance to drive like a race car driver, a dream he finally realized in May 2012 (age 88) at the Rusty Wallace Raceway in Newton, IA.

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Melba, son Gaylen, brothers: Maynard and
Glen, and sisters Vera Davis and Viola Crowe.

Left to cherish his memory are his son Ronald Vance and wife Kendra of Lincoln, NE; daughter Marilyn Kasperbauer and husband Jan of Rochester, MN; daughter-in-law Shirley Ewing of Bladen, NE; 8 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren: Randall Vance and wife Cori and children Sara, Christine, Lindsey and Daniel; Krista Gerth and husband Jayson and children: Abigail, Tyler and Nathan; Kimberly Beasley and husband David and son Zachary; Megan, Karrie and Grant Kasperbauer; Brian Vance and wife Mary and children Bailey, Anna, Brett and Adam; and Jay Vance and wife Ella and children Ethan and Lillian, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held this Tuesday 10:30 AM, September 3, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Bladen, Nebraska. Pastor Dan Albers will be officiating. Burial will be held in the East Lawn Cemetery, Bladen. Condolences may be sent to the family at wmsfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the Children's Hospital in Omaha, Bladen Methodist Church and the Bladen Volunteer Fire Department. Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud is in charge of the arrangements.

Williams Funeral Homes
Red Cloud Chapel
PH 402 746 2500