Jolene L. Kitzky

Jolene Leota Kitzky, 78, died on Thursday, July 29th, 2021 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

Jolene was born in February 1943 in Queens City, Missouri. Jolene was raised in the Lancaster area on a farm where she graduated high school in 1960. She moved to St Louis to attend secretary

school. She met her first husband at the USSO club. She had her first son, Tracy, in 1964. Jolene’s first marriage ended in divorce.

Jolene remarried and had her second son, Tony, in 1972. Jolene and her husband moved to Aurora, Illinois for employment. Her second marriage ended soon after. Jolene found stable employment at a metal factory pouring molten aluminum into molds in 1977. She mustered her trademark Missourian grit and stuck to that job and helped organize a union drive. In 1986 she was invited to Washington DC to testify to her experience in front of the Senate Committee on Labour Relations chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy.

Jolene took that same grit into the Illinois Department of Corrections when she started as a Corrections Officer in 1985 in Sheridan, Illinois. She always wanted a place of her own in the country, and she found it in Mt Sterling, Illinois where she transferred to the prison there in 1991. Jolene retired in 2007. She lived her remaining years riding her horses and enjoying the country life.

Jolene is survived by her two sons, Tracy Newcomb and Tony Kitzky, daughter-in-law Andrea and granddaughter Lauren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leota and Aubrey Barnes, and brother, Wayne Barnes.

Jolene lived her life just as she wanted to. She said she only needed God, a good Tennessee walking horse and her family and friends. And she would tell you, if you don't like it, then keep on down the road. Happy trails, country girl.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 5, 2021 at Highland Park Cemetery in Kirksville, MO. Service will be live streamed on Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Facebook page.

Arrangements in the care of Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home: www.davisplaylehudsonrimer.com .