Ila Dean Horn
February 28, 1930 – May 18, 2024
Ila Dean Horn was born February 28, 1930, and she passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024. She was born to Clarice and Howard Grey in a farmhouse outside of Moulton, Iowa. She was the first of nine children and was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and two brothers – Carolyn, Connie, Verna, Marjorie, Wendell and Loren. She is survived by three children from her marriage to Dwain Horn, Randy (Karen), Brian (Melanie), Susan Pedersen and partner Dennis; eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; sisters Phyllis and Barbara; many other beloved family members and friends; and Frank Frerich, her long-time special friend with whom she shared life for 35 years.
Ila Dean was a teacher for many years in Iowa and Nebraska. After attending the University of Northern Iowa on a Farm Bureau scholarship, she returned to her hometown of Moulton, IA and taught fifth grade. After marriage and moves to Des Moines, Atlanta and finally Omaha, she returned to college at UNO, receiving her B.S. and M.S. degrees, and later her Ed.D from UNL. Ila Dean was a Media Specialist for Ralston Public schools, taught an Early Childhood program at Metro and Teacher Education at Nebraska Wesleyan, College of St. Mary and UNO. Her area of expertise was Language Arts and she had a special love of children’s literature.
After retirement Ila Dean was active in many organizations including Joslyn Museum’s docent program, Omaha Women’s Club, Phi Delta Gamma, weekly study group, church groups, Red Hats, book and bridge clubs, and Qui Vive dance club.
In the fall of 2009 Ila Dean and Frank welcomed Ebrahim Abdulsattar, an exchange student from Yemen, into their home for his senior year of high school and college. They remained close throughout the rest of her life.
Ila Dean lived a long and accomplished life, but family always came first. She leaves behind a legacy centered on the importance of an inquisitive mind, education, love of reading and discussion, and most of all family.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, May 25 at West Center Chapel, 11 AM. Private Interment. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Westside Community Schools Foundation.
To view live broadcasts of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
8 Comments
Deepest sympathy to the Horn family for the loss of Ila. According to Psalm 90:10, Ila was blessed with special strength. May your fond memories and encouraging scriptures such as Acts 24:15 and Revelation 21:3, 4 comfort your family during this difficult time.
Wishing you comfort and peace during this difficult time.
What an amazing lady my aunt was – strong, intelligent, inquisitive. I believe I got my love of reading from her. While in elementary school she would often ask me what I was reading and always showed interest in the books I checked out from the library. All through my schooling, she took the time to inquire as to how I was doing, and what I was studying. I loved sharing those things with her. I’ll miss her very much. Wishing Randy, Susan, Brian, Frank and family comfort and happy memories at this time.
so sorry for your loss. A wonderful Lady
A great woman we will dearly miss. Our sincere condolences to Frank, Christopher and all her family.
I’ll miss my dear cousin,Ila Dean. We had so many good visits during these latter years, remembering our childhoods and discussing current events around the U.S. and world. Ila Dean was a wonderful person who left her mark on all who knew her. Wishing comfort to Randy, Susan and Brian through happy memories of their wonderful Mother.
on all who knew her
Ila Dean was my mother in law for more than 30 years. Will miss all of the Christmas and Thanksgivings I had with her and the Horn family. She was so active and had so many things she was interested in.
When I married Carolyn and became part of the Grey family, Ila dean stepped into my life as my sister-in-law and what a blessing that became for me. She was a very special person to me and was always interested in my family and how we were doing. When Carolyn died, she reached out in ways that touched me deeply even to this day. Over the years when we had a chance to talk, just the two us, the conversations were seldom small talk but centered on ideas and things that held our interest. It is my great privilege to have been a part of her life. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
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