Iona "Onie" Boward

Iona “Onie” Boward, 92, of Lincoln, passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Vonderlieth Nursing Home in Mt. Pulaski, IL.

Iona worked at the Lincoln Developmental Center until she went to work at Logan Correction Center, which she retired from.

Iona was born February 13, 1934, to Jacob and Cora Lee (Camper) Willmert.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Gail) Liesman; sons, Theodore (Rene) Boward and Raymond Boward; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She was the youngest of eleven children and is also survived by one sister, Nola Turley.

Iona was preceded in death by one son, Russell Boward; her granddaughter, Addison Boward; and a great-grandson, Andrew Liesman.

Per Iona’s request, no services are scheduled. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.