Anne Block Jones

Anne B. Jones, 92, of Lenexa, KS, passed peacefully from this world to the next on Friday, July 21, 2023. Anne was born on September 24, 1930, to Hugo and Mary Burnetta Block in Beatrice, NE. The family lived briefly in Baltimore, MD, before moving to Beverly Hills, California when Anne was four years old. She graduated from Beverly Hills High School (CA), then from Monticello College in Godfrey, IL. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of California, Los Angeles.

While a senior at UCLA, she met a young Marine named Leonard Connett Jones, who was deployed to Korea two weeks after their first date. Two years and many, many letters later, Leonard and Anne were married on June 27, 1954. They were blessed with two daughters, Dianne and Kathy.

The family lived in Anaheim, CA, Park Forest, IL, Union, MO, Park Forest again, and Belleville, IL, finally settling back in Anaheim, where they lived for 17 years.

Anne and Leonard then spent five years in Overland Park, KS and 23 years in Sandy, UT. Their final move was to Lenexa, KS in 2006, where they enjoyed their golden years as residents of Lakeview Village. Their positive, friendly nature enabled them to establish deep friendships wherever they lived.

Anne was a public school teacher in Hermosa Beach, CA, and later in Anaheim, where she taught 2nd grade for 10 years.

Anne was a dedicated member of P.E.O. International, a philanthropic educational organization. In 1980, she was organizing president of Chapter II, Overland Park, KS. She also served on the Utah State P.E.O. board beginning in 1998, rising to state president in 2005. She was a woman of deep faith who participated fully in church life, most recently at Overland Park Presbyterian Church. Through the years, her church involvement included teaching Sunday School, playing handbells in bell choirs, serving on the Board of Deacons, acting as a lay reader, participating in PW (Presbyterian Women), and serving on countless committees.

Anne’s interests included travel, bridge, ballroom dancing, quilting, music and, most of all, being with family and friends.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Jean Gower, her loving husband, Leonard, and her son-in-law, Dennis Onnen. She is survived by her daughters, Dianne Deming and Kathy Onnen, and their families (son-in-law Frank Deming, grandchildren Scott [Roxanna] and John Deming, James and Becki Onnen, and great-grandson, Ryder Kauffman).

A celebration of Anne’s life will be held on Friday, August 11, 11:00 a.m., in the Heritage Activity Center at Lakeview Village (9100 Park St., Lenexa, KS), followed by a reception. The visitation will precede the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m., also in the Heritage Activity Center. Officiating will be the Rev. Jason Carle, pastor of Overland Park Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Overland Park Presbyterian Church (https://overlandparkpres.org/giving/) or P.E.O.’s International Peace Scholarship fund (https://donations.peointernational.org/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Jones family.