Eleanor Penke, 88 of Oakland, NE

Eleanor Penke

ELEANOR LOUISE PENKE, 88 years of Oakland, Nebraska, formerly of rural Craig, Nebraska.

Eleanor Louise (Rudolph) Penke was born October 21, 1925, at Papillion, Nebraska, to Henry and Clara (Cockerill) Rudolph. She passed away Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland.

Eleanor was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Papillion. She attended rural Chase School and graduated from Papillion High School. Following her graduation, she started work setting type for the Papillion Times, where she worked for five years. She worked at the Sarpy County Courthouse in the Assessors and Treasurer’s office for two years.

On January 20, 1951, Eleanor was united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran to Dale Penke of Gretna, Nebraska. To this union two children were born. They farmed in Sarpy and Douglas Counties, moving to Burt County on a farm near Bertha in February 1969.

Eleanor was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah, Pleasant Homemakers Club and American Legion Auxiliary #127 in Craig.

She loved to embroidery, making quilts for each of her family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale on February 14, 1999; two brothers, Harold and Raymond Rudolph; great granddaughter, Allison Grace Penke.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Sylvia and Jim Thomas of Decatur, NE; son and daughter-in-law, Stan and Sue Penke of Craig; four grandchildren, Kelly (Robert) Abrahams of Hooper, NE, Jason (Kylie) Penke of Craig, Melissa (Martin) Anderson of Eugene, OR, Cassie (Nick) Easterly of Sidney, NE;  five great grandchildren, Ashley Abrahams, Alex Abrahams, Austin Abrahams, Tate Penke, Tye Penke;  sisters, Eileen Simonsen of Omaha, NE; three brothers,  Harry Rudolph of Papillion, John Rudolph of Dunbar, NE, Otto Rudolph of Wichita, KS; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah.

VISITATION: Tuesday with the family receiving friends from 4 – 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Wednesday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS: To the Family

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com