The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meet Your Neighbor

by Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

Meet Your Neighbor, Amanda Jack, who lives in Stronghurst. Amanda was born in Burlington, IA and grew up outside of Lomax and Stronghurst, making her a life long Henderson County resident.

Amanda's mother, Nancy Tudor is retired and lives in Burlington, IA. Her father, Gary Hobby, also retired, and step-mother, Marie, live in the country, outside of Terre Haute for 6 months and in Brownsville, TX the other 6 months of the year.

Amanda has two children, Peyton, 14, a freshman at West Central High School and Spencer, 13, an 8th grader at West Central Middle School.

Peyton is involved in Student Council, band, FFA, FCA and FCCLA, while Spencer has been involved in sports but now is focusing on farming and hunting. Both kids are active in the Stronghurst Hustlers 4-H Club and the Ignite Youth Group.

Amanda has two older brothers, Albie and Kelly live in Colorado Springs with their two children Olivia and Maddie. Their son Peter is in the Air Force and stationed in Japan. Brother Eric and Dana live in Aurora, CO, with their children Dylan and Remi.

Amanda also has a sister, Laura, who lives outside of Danville, IA with her husband, Nathan and two children, Dane and Marin.

Amanda's grandparents were Bill and Pauline Hobby of Lomax and Gil and Audrey Sorrell of Traer, IA. All have now passed except Audrey who now lives in Burlington, IA.

Amanda said, "I was blessed to spend most of my early childhood living just down the hill from my grandpa and grandma Hobby. Some of my fondest memories are walking up the hill and spending time with them.

Amanda graduated from Southern High School in 1997 and attended SCC, Carl Sandburg College and WIU.

She is currently a bookkeeper/data processor at Raritan State Bank after having worked previously at the Henderson County Circuit Clerk's office, West Central Elementary School, and ran Small World Children's Center in Stronghurst.

Amanda and children attend the Stronghurst United Methodist Church, where she teaches the high school Sunday School Class.

Recently, with a group of other community Christian adults, she has help start a youth group which they named "Ignite Youth Group". Ignite is a non-demonination youth group that was started to have a positive impact on local youth.

She is also involved with One Family One Purpose and looks forward to her and her son, Spencer, going to Solomon, Kansas on their first build experience in December.

Amanda enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to sporting events and movies.

Family vacations are enjoyed anywhere as long as it is a new experience and the family is together.

Amanda had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Sobier, Haiti in June, 2015 on a mission trip. There they worked on a medical clinic and conducted a Bible school in the evenings. She said, "The experience changed my life and my view on most things. Incredible experience. One I hope to have again."

Her future plans include continuing to enjoy life in Henderson County with her kids, travel and living life to the fullest, in the time she is given.