Notes:

The earthly journey of Ione R. Jensen Lollar came to an unexpected end on April 1, 2019.
Living with the lifelong motto of “Life’s a Journey,” what a journey she had! Ione was born in Curtis, Nebraska on June 15, 1936 to loving parents Clarence “Butch” and Ebba Jensen. At age three, the family moved to California, where Ione would live for the next 80 years.

Ione attended Wasco schools and graduated from Wasco High in 1954. Her journey continued to UCLA and Children’s Hospital School of Physical Therapy. After graduating from PT school in 1959, she made the bold move to San Francisco, working not in physical therapy, but in the offices of Pan Am Airlines. In each part of the journey, she made life-long and cherished friendships.

Ione married John “Jack” Lollar on April 22, 1961 in the Wasco Methodist Church, where they worshipped and were leaders for more than 50 years. By 1964, they had two children, Laura/ie and Richard, and lived in Wasco. They became very involved in the community and kids' activities. They were founding directors of the Wasco Rose Festival Art and great supporters of the arts and artists. Ione was also an artist, creating beautiful stained glass, weavings, and baskets. Her Chex mix and challah were sought after items at the Methodist Mini-Bazaar.

Ione worked part-time, along-side Jack, at their physical therapy office in Shafter. She was always home when the kids got home from school. During these years, the family travelled internationally, visited family in Colorado, Nebraska, and New Mexico, and explored favorite places like San Francisco, Yosemite and Morro Bay/Los Osos. Her favorite journey was a trip to watch the Apollo Soyuz space launch at Cape Canaveral. The Once-a-Year Club, bridge group, and PEO provided many happy couple memories.

They moved to Shafter in 1984. Both were devoted volunteer Green Hotel cooks and docents. Ione was also involved in grant writing and producing the newsletter for the Green Hotel. Ione served as President of PEO Chapter JT and celebrated 35 years as a member. She was co-coordinator of the Shafter-Wasco Satellite Branch of AAUW that later became the Brunch Bunch. These were all sources of more cherished friendships.

Everything she did, she did with love and attention to detail. Her family was always her priority. As an only child, she was an amazing daughter. In her words, she was a PT and, “Also daughter, wife, mom, grandma, aunt, cousin, friend...each one fun!” She was the documentarian of all our lives. She was never without a camera in hand at the end of a visit to capture the moment. Many wonderful hours were spent around the Lollar dining room table enjoying meals she prepared.

A highlight of Ione’s journey was being part of the team to establish the Wasco Union High School Auditorium on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. She was passionate about world peace... embracing the motto of Another Mother for Peace: “War is not healthy for children and other living things.”
After Jack’s death in 2012, Ione was blessed to be surrounded by family and close friends. She kept up her activities and added a Wendy’s Words Little Free Library to her front yard. The family continued the traditional Thanksgiving trip to San Francisco and her grandchildren were her pride and joy until the end.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Ebba Jensen, and her husband of 51 years, John “Jack” Lollar. She is survived by daughter Laura Wolfe, her husband Bill, and sons Matthew and Daniel of Shafter; son Richard, his wife Christine (Harris), their children Katie, Gregory, Emily and Isabelle, and their five grandchildren, of Bakersfield.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Monday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at the Wasco First United Methodist Church, 1441 7th Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to reach Ione’s lifelong wish of purchasing a Giving Ark from Heifer International, https://fundraise.heifer.org/fundraiser/2005422 or to the Wasco Community Scholarship Association, PO Box 7, Wasco, CA 93280.

Ione married John M Lollar on 22 Apr 1961 in Wasco Methodist Church, Kern County, California. John was born on 5 Aug 1933 in Las Vegas, New Mexico; died on 26 Nov 2012; was buried in Wasco Memorial Park, Wasco, Kern County, Californi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Laura Lollar
2. Richard Lollar

Clarence married Ebba Laura Petersen on 21 Feb 1932 in Ebenezer Church, Curtis, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. Ebba was born on 16 Feb 1913 in Lincoln, Johnson County, Nebraska; died on 26 Dec 1992 in Bakersfiels, Kern County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/28200365/person/12012831629/facts?_phsrc=sUW411&_phstart=successSource

Notes:

Kenneth Leroy Mercer:

I enjoy researching my family roots and finding out how I was influenced by my relatives. One of those I so respected and still do is my Great-Grandfather; Chris L Jensen, who came to America in the 1890's working his way over on a cattle ship from Denmark, signed the required paperwork disavowing his former Country and King while pledging allegiance to America (which he did willingly and with great excitement). He made his way with his brother to Nebraska and homesteaded just north of my hometown, Curtis. He never learned to drive, walking everywhere he went including to and from work (apporx. 8 miles each day) every work day. The attached photo is from one of his special days in this very special country. I never heard him say anything bad about America or any person for that matter ? he left a great example to follow!

Christian married Petrea Christine Jepsen in 1893. Petrea (daughter of Peter Jepsen and Ane Regine Jensen) was born on 17 Apr 1876 in Omme, Vester Nykirke Sogn, Skast Herred, Ribe Amt; was christened on 28 May 1876 in Vester Nykirke; died on 12 Jan 1945; was buried in Curtis Cemetery, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Søren married Ane Else Jensen on 31 Jan 1861 in Skads Kirke, Skads Sogn og Herred, Ribe Amt. Ane (daughter of Jens Pedersen and Maren Christensdatter) was born on 4 Jan 1839 in Andrup, Skads Sogn og Herred, Ribe Amt; was christened on 13 Jan 1839 in Skads Kirke; died in 1907 in Curtis, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA; was buried in Curtis Cemetery, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/160464392/person/422094462882/facts

Peter married Ane Regine Jensen on 13 Oct 1859 in Skads Kirke, Skads Sogn og Herred, Ribe Amt. Ane (daughter of Jens Pedersen and Maren Christensdatter) was born on 31 Jul 1837 in Andrup, Skads Sogn og Herred, Ribe Amt; was christened on 1 Aug 1837 in i hjemmet/at home; died on 8 Mar 1906 in Curtis, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA; was buried in Rose. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]