Ivanelle 'June' Rice
Ivanelle June Rice, 83, formerly of Lancaster, passed away on Dec. 9, 2021, at Orchard Manor Nursing Home, rural Lancaster.
Ivanelle was the first of nine children born to Alberta (Casler) Kalinowski. Ivanelle was called, by all who knew her, June or June Bug, as she disliked Ivanelle. She was born June 2, 1938, in Giltner, Neb., daughter of Erwin and Alberta Howland. June was raised in Mount Hope, and graduated from Mount Hope High School in 1956. She married Ronald Lee Rice, also from Mount Hope, on Sept. 8, 1956, in Nashua, Iowa, at the Little Brown Church. After Ron was honorably discharged from the military, they moved to the Milwaukee area, raising their three children, Richard, Carol, and Thomas. June was employed by the United States Government Treasury Department (IRS) for 25 years, retiring in 1997. Her hobbies included gardening, needle point, crafts, and spending time with her grandchildren. June was an avid bowler for many years, going to state bowling with her sisters. They were known as the “Hot Sisters.” She was also involved in PTA, Boy and Girl Scouts, and attended many baseball games, the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Among other favorite activities was camping in the state parks with her husband, Ron, after they both retired. They camped for years getting to 39 of the 50 states. Many family and friends would join them for nothing but fun times. There was always a campfire and a beer or two to go with Ron’s stories.
Survivors include two children: Carol Moore, Bloomington; Thomas (Pam) Rice, Rio Verde, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and one on the way; five sisters, Lois Bowen, Lancaster; Pauline (Wayne) Clark, Bagley; Karla (Dan) Meier, Cross Plains; Joan (Hank) Breuer, Bloomington; Loretta (Russ) Docken, Verona; two brothers, Michael (Carol) Kalinowski, Bloomington and James Kalinowski, Minnesota; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
June was preceded in death by her mother, Alberta Kalinowski; her father, Eric Howland; stepfather, Roman Kalinowski; her husband, Ronald; her oldest son, Richard; sister, Rose Ann Witzel; brothers-in-law, Curtis Witzel and LaVern Bowen; son-in-law, David Moore; and oldest grandson, Carter Matousek.
A Celebration of June’s Life will be held on Saturday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Bloomington, with Pastor Mary Ann Floerke officiating. Burial will be in Hermitage Cemetery, Mount Hope Township. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of plants and flowers, donations may be made in June’s name to the Grant County Cancer Coalition or to the Hermitage Cemetery.
