Ida Mollie Simmons Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ida Mollie Simmons (nee Broad) passed away June 16, 2022 in Hobart Indiana. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 24th, 1938. Ida is preceded in death by her husband Lonnie Simmons of Fairmont NC, her parents Leonora and William Broad, her brothers George and Vernon Broad all of Honolulu HI. and her son Dale Ashcraft of Oak Island NC. Ida is survived by her sons William (Sabine) Ashcraft of Merrillville, IN, Daniel (Karen) Ashcraft of Dewey, OK, Gregory (Deborah) Ashcraft of Lake Station, IN, David (Cheri) of Goshen IN. Grandchildren Timothy Ashcraft, Jilean (Jack) Sample, Terry Ashcraft, Daniel Jr. (Melinda) Ashcraft, Leanna (Clint) Blevins, Dianna (David) McDaniels, Lori Farmer, Brittany Ashcraft, Scott Ashcraft, David Ashcraft Jr., Paul Ashcraft and twelve Great Grandchildren. Ida enjoyed countless hours in her yards being a master gardener. Canning jellies jams and vegetables was something she loved and did for decades. Knitting was another craft that she perfected over the span of her lifetime. Ida was a avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy realm books, reading as many as six per week. Also, she would never say no to an opportunity to view Harry Potter, Star Wars, or The Hobbit. etc. Ida’s life was not without incredible turmoil. In 1941, at the very early age of three, her father had a job in the Philippines and the whole family was there when Ida, her five year old brother George, her mother Lenni and her father Bill were given an ultimatum by the newly occupying forces of the Imperial Japanese Army to turn themselves in to an interment camp. The family spent the next four years as POW’s under the Japanese. They and many many others were held under duress at a makeshift interment facility on the campus of the University of Santo Thomas. Towards the end of the Japanese occupation, starvation, disease and death ran rampant amongst the ranks of the POW’s. With precious few days left before the Japanese may have executed the family and the remaining prisoners, the camp was liberated, as historically promised, by American ground forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Ida, hence, strived to live everyday as a blessing from her savior Jesus Christ. Her kindness and generosity were always on display. Her life was an inspiration to all who knew her and she will be greatly missed. A celebration of Ida’s life will be take place from 4-7 pm on Friday, June 24th at Burns Funeral Home, 701 E 7th St, Hobart, IN 46342, In lieu of flowers a donation to Wounded Warriors in Ida’s name would be greatly appreciated.

Ida Mollie Simmons

April 24, 1938 - June 16, 2022