Eleanor Kenning

Eleanor Darlene (Weigel) Kenning was born March 15, 1923. She died on April 15, 2016 at the Heritage Care Center in Fairbury, Nebraska at the age of 93 years and one month.

She was the daughter of Earl and Cora (Hilder) Weigel. Soon after her birth she was baptized at the Congregational Church in Diller, Nebraska. She was confirmed there in 1935. She grew up on the family farm that her great grandparents homesteaded south of Diller. She attended elementary school at district 89 and graduated from Diller High School. She attended summer school at the Fairbury Junior College and the University at Lincoln. She taught elementary grades in Jefferson and Gage County.
On May 23, 1946 she married Leonard Kenning. To this union three children were born. The family made their home on a farm southwest of Steele City until 1964 when they purchased their home in Steele City. After her husbands death in 1980 she remained in Steele City until 2005 when she moved to an apartment in Fairbury, Nebraska. As her health started to fail, she moved to the Kensington Assisted Living in Beatrice and lived there for 7 years before moving to the Heritage Care Center in Fairbury.
Eleanor was a devoted wife and mother. As a young housewife, she always raised a large garden, helped on the farm, sewed and was an excellent cook. After she had her family raised, she worked at Swingster Sewing factory in Fairbury for several years, then after retiring she worked part time as a teachers aid at the Steele City School.


She was a member of the Steele City Presbyterian Church. She served as an elder, held many offices in the womens organizaton and sang in the choir. She especially enjoyed the many years she taught Sunday School. Church was very important to her and always showed a loving Christian example to her family and all that knew her. She was a member of the Steele City American Legion Auxiliary and enjoyed being a member of the Little Blue Belles extension club.

Proceeding her in death were her husband, infant son, David, her parents; brothers and their spouses, Lawrence and Shirley Weigel, Dwight and Wilma Weigel, Dwaine and Barbara Weigel and son- in -law Donovan Meyer.

She is survived by her son, Robert Kenning and wife Dorothy of Hay Springs, NE, daughter Karen Bergmeier and husband Daryl of Plymouth; granddaughters Tammy Midgett and husband Josh of Lincoln, Becky Kruse and husband Bryan of Bremen, KS; Great Grandchildren Carter and Camden Midgett and Emma and Ethan Kruse; 5 step grandchildren, 3 step great grandchildren and 5 step great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Steele City. Burial following at the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials are to the Family’s Choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home of Fairbury in charge of arrangements.