Ilene Marie Ross, age 88, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died on October 25, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ilene was born on May 31, 1936, in Ames, Kansas, to Walford and Irene (LeClair) Peterson. She attended school in Clifton, Kansas, and graduated from Clifton High School in 1954. She married Bruce Damman, of Palmer, Kansas, in 1957. Their children, Angela and Gregory, were born while Ilene and Bruce lived in Kansas City as Bruce attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical School. In 1963, Bruce graduated from medical school and the family moved to El Paso, Texas.
Shortly after the family moved to Texas, Patrick was born. Two weeks after Patrick was born, Bruce died suddenly from sepsis and Ilene returned to Clifton, Kansas, with her three small children. She began working as a bank teller and raising her children as a single mother in Clifton. After a few years, she met Richard Ross who was a teacher and coach at Clifton High School. They married in 1970. In 1971, the family moved to Belleville, Kansas, after Richard accepted a teaching and coaching position there.
In Belleville, Ilene worked as a floral designer for many years while simultaneously providing a loving, caring, and supportive home for her husband and children. Ilene had many friends in Belleville and especially enjoyed her card and coffee groups. She sat nervously through many Belleville Buff sports activities as she watched her husband, coach and her children participate.
In 1985, Ilene and Richard moved to Overland Park, Kansas, where Richard was employed with People’s Heritage Savings & Loan and Ilene continued to work as a floral designer. She received many compliments and special requests for her floral design talent from customers who wanted beautiful flower arrangements for their special occasions.
In 1992, Richard and Ilene moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, after Richard began working at Southeast Community College. From that point forward, Ilene and Richard traveled to many foreign countries together and also enjoyed attending the activities of their grandchildren. Ilene was well known for her grace, style, and savvy shopping skills.
Ilene was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 14. She managed and controlled it so well with no complications that her physician recommended she be examined at the Harvard-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts, for research purposes. She traveled to Boston for testing and examination and ultimately decided to donate her organs for research at Joslin. Ilene lived nearly 75 healthy years as a Type I diabetic.
Ilene was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Dr. Bruce Damman, and two infant children. She is survived by husband, Richard, her children, Angela (Jeff) Lovell, Pittsburg, Kansas, Gregory (Susan) Damman, of Seward, Nebraska, and Patrick (Marilyn) Damman, of Girard, Kansas, grandchildren, Marissa Poppe, Dr. Tanner Poppe, Elizabeth Klinginsmith, Ethan Damman, Annie Damman, Laike Damman, Aiden Damman, Chase McFarland, and Kelci Mar, and nine great grandchildren. Ilene was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lincoln, Nebraska.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 1 p.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clyde, Kansas, with burial at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Fr. Steven Heina will be officiating. Ilene’s family would like to thank the staff at Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Journey House hospice for the excellent care she received. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Memorials to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
For online condolences please visit, www.chaputbuoy.com
