Ilene B. Powell

    Broken Bow, NE- Ilene B. Powell age 96 of Broken Bow died Thursday August 31, 2017 at the Brookestone View Care Home in Broken Bow.   Funeral services will be held on Monday September 4, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with Pastor Bob Winn officiating.  Burial services will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.  Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Sunday September 3, 2017, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary.  Memorials are suggested to the Weissert Church or the Prairie Pioneer Center.   Ilene Bina (Bomberger) Powell was born October 19, 1920 to Warren and Ethel (Chrisp) Bomberger in the Ortello Valley west of Merna, Nebraska.  She lived in that area until she started school at the Sunshine School west of Merna.  The family moved to the Weissert area when she was in 3rd grade.  She attended East Weissert School through 8th grade then went to high school in Broken Bow, graduating in 1938.  She taught 2 years at the Lampher Dist. near Westerville and 1 year at the East Weissert School.    Ilene always enjoyed music playing in the high school orchestra and she and her brother Clifford often entertained with guitar and violin at surrounding communities and events.  Later she and her husband sang together at many programs and funerals.    Ilene and Gilbert Powell were married August 16, 1939 at Kearney, Nebraska.  They were blessed with 4 children Marlene, Marilyn, Gloria, and Neil.  When the children got older she worked as a clerk at the Warrick Department Store.  Then she and good friend Juanita Connely started their own business “The Fabric Center”, which they operated for 13 years.  Among her many talents she enjoyed cake decorating, sewing, gardening, china painting and all types of needle work.  Her family and friends all benefited from her handy work.    Most of their married life Ilene and Gilbert lived on the family farm in the Weissert Community.  They always attended church at the Weissert Church of God.  In 1990 they moved into Broken Bow to enjoy retirement.  Gilbert passed away in 2000 and Ilene continued to live there until 2014 when she moved into assisted living.    Survivors include her children Marlene (Howard) Ballenger, Marilyn (Dennis) Storms, Gloria Brown, and Neil Powell, her grand children; Debra (Jim) Girardin, Brad (Tracey) Ballenger, Jolene Storms, Justin (Tracy) Storms, Jana (Gordon) Kaelin, Jeff (Candi) Storms, Jeena (Brett) Haffener, Ben Brown, Natalie Brown and Lindsay (Case) Maranville.  15 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great Great Grandchildren, Brother Clifford (Carol) Bomberger, Sister In-law Connie Bomberger.   Preceding her in death Husband Gilbert Powell, Parents Warren and Ethel Bomberger, in-laws Albert and Mamie Powell, sister Mildred Bomberger, brother Marlin Bomberger, son in-law Doug Brown.