Jaceil Jolene Blanford, 77, of Keokuk, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021, at River Hills Village in Keokuk, Iowa.
Jolene was born on August 26, 1943, in Clark County, Missouri, the daughter of Jason Leonard and Emma Josephine (Wilson) Perry. She graduated from Memphis High School in 1961 and moved to Keokuk in 1977. She was united in marriage to Charles Lewis Lantz, who passed away on June 8, 1984, and was later united in marriage to Norman Alton Blanford, who preceded her in death on June 24, 2002.
Jolene was a member of New Testament Christian Church in Keokuk and was employed at Metzler Automotive Profiling Systems for forty-three years, retiring in 2003. She was very active in her community and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Women of the Moose, the Eagles Auxiliary, the Elks Lodge and the Local 444 United Steel Workers of America. Jolene was an avid mall walker, golfed and loved her dogs/cats (Birdie). She was proud of her garden and yard and was very dependable.
Jolene is survived by her significant other Gurden Kraus and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jolene is preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Cassondra Heaton, and two brothers: Leonard Wayne Perry and J. W. Perry.
Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk, with burial to follow at Keokuk National Cemetery. For those unable to attend, the service may be live-streamed via Facebook Live at the DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home Facebook page. Visitation will be held from 11 am to 1 pm on Tuesday directly before the service. For the safety of those attending, masks and social distancing will be required.
Memorials may be directed to River Hills Village.
Tributes and condolences may be left at www.dejongsfuneralhome.com.
DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home of Keokuk is in charge of arrangements.
