Henry Wehnes Family Descendants

ALMA WEHNES

Daughter of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

She was born on 30 January 1903 on the family farm in the Zero Township of Adams County, Nebraska. She died 4 February 1989 in Hastings, Nebraska and was buried in the Blue Valley Cemetery, north of Ayr, Adams County, Nebraska. She was a life-long resident of the Ayr area and married (James) Jay Davis, Sr. Jay was a skilled mechanic and all-around tinkerer. He ran the Hilltop Garage in Ayr for many years and also had a garage in Pauline.

In 1930 they were living at 106 E 6th St in Hastings where his profession is listed as “service man – car repair”. Their son and my grandfather, James (‘Jim’) Jay, Jr., is also living with them. He had been born in Missouri.

ARTHUR ALBERT WEHNES

Son of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

He was born on the family farm on 20 November 1910 in the Zero Township, Adams County, Nebraska. He died at Kearney, Nebraska’s Good Samaritan Hospital on 3 July 2008.

Arthur’s Obituary :
“Arthur A. Wehnes, age 97, of Red Cloud, died Thursday, July 3, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
    Graveside services were held Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., July 8, 2008 at the Red Cloud Cemetery with Rev. Richard Fairbanks officiating.
    Arthur Albert Wehnes was born November 20, 1910 on a farm outside of Ayr, Nebraska to Antionette and Henry Wehnes. He grew up in a large family of nine brothers and sisters and five half-brothers and sisters near Ayr.
    On November 17, 1943, Art was united in marriage with Anna Mae Hubacek of Blue Hill, Nebraska. This union was blessed with three children, Arthur W., Richard J., and Patricia R. The couple lived in the Ayr community unitl Art relocated the family in 1950, when he purchased the farm northeast of Red Cloud. They resided there until moving into Red Cloud to make their home in 1964.
    Art spent the majority of his life farming, but he was also known for his “handyman” skills. Art was an avid reader and tried to stay abreast of current events. He was extremely proud of his garden, which he shared with his family and the townspeople. Art doted on his grandchildren. The Marget grandchildren affectionately called him “Grandpa Safety” as he always wanted them to be careful and safe.
    Art left this life on July 3, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Hospital at Kearney, Nebraska. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Ann; a grandson, Tony Wehnes; and his brothers and sisters.
    Those surviving are his children, Arthur W. Wehnes and wife L. Jane (Marget) of Bennet, Nebraska; Richard Wehnes and wife Deanne (Boren) of Lincoln, Nebraska; Patricia Wackerla and husband Tracy of Kearney, Nebraska; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; other friends and family …”

ETHEL IRENE WEHNES

Daughter of of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

She was born on 12 January 1921 on the family farm and died 8 December 2000 in Kenesaw. Nebraska’s Haven Home.

Ethel’s Obituary :
“Kenesaw resident Ethel I. (Wehnes) Duden, 79, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2000, at the Kenesaw Haven Home in Kenesaw. Graveside services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery south of Juniata. Visitation is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hastings. Mrs. Duden was born Jan. 12, 1921, to Henry and Tony (Meseka) Wehnes in Adams County. She attended school in Ayr. On March 5, 1941, she married Marvin W. Duden. They farmed near Hastings. They also raised championship thoroughbred race horses. On Sept. 22, 1978, her husband died. She moved to Good Samaritan Village in Hastings in 1985 and later to Kenesaw Haven Home. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Surviving is one son, Bill.”

WILLIAM ENNO WEHNES

Born 1912 in the Zero Township, he died February 1940 and is buried in the Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska.

Sadly William appears to have taken his own life : “William Wehnes, Ayr Farmer, takes own life – Hastings, Neb., Feb. 23 – (AP) Sheriff Worthy Wood described as a suicide Thursday the death of William E. Wehnes, 27, found shot in haymow at the family farm home near Ayr. Wehnes was released recently from an army hospital at Denver and had been despondent, members of the family said. His mother, six sisters and two brothers survive.” [Lincoln Journal Star, 23 Feb 1940]

SYLVIA FREDA WEHNES

Daughter of of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

She was born on the family farm on 16 December 1914 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on 18 December 2013.
Sylvia’s Obituary :
“Sylvia Freda Gartner, the daughter of Henry and Antonia (Mysicka) Wehnes was born on a farm near Ayr, Nebraska on December 16, 1914 and passed away in Aurora, Nebraska on December 18, 2013, at the age of 99.
    She was raised on a farm near Pauline & Ayr. Sylvia attended country school and helped take care of her younger sisters and brothers.
    Sylvia was married to Charles Gartner on March 24, 1934 at Smith Center, Kansas. Charles passed away in 1960. Sylvia sold the farm and moved to Hastings where she worked at the Modern Motel & Travel Lodge. She also was a cook at the Good Samaritan Village for several years.
    Sylvia was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Aurora. She taught Sunday school and helped with vacation Bible school while being a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Blue Hill
    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, son, Roger and 5 sisters and 3 brothers.
    Those left to cherish her memory are her two children, William (Karen) Gartner of Gretna and Charlene Coon of Aurora; 6 grandchildren, Russell Gartner of Clarksburg, West Virginia, Cindy Williams of Hastings, Robert (Rhonda) Coon of Greeley, Colorado, Barry (Laura) Coon of Highland Ranch, Colorado, Michelle Gartner-Kochanek and Dan Kochanek of Denver, Colorado and Adam (Ashley) Gartner of Omaha and 7 great-grandchildren, Zachary, Andrew, Nathan, Sarah, Megan, Kinley and Brennan.”

ELMER FRED WEHNES

Son of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

Elmer was born on 9 May 1918 in Hastings, Nebraska. He died on 27 December 1992 at his home in Killeen, Texas.
Elmer’s Obituary :
“Funeral services for retired Sgt. 1st Class Elmer Fred Wehnes, 74, of Killeen (Texas) will be at 10am Tuesday at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen. Burial will follow at Killeen City Cemetery.
    Wehnes died Sunday at his residence.
    He was born May 9, 1918, in Hastings, Neb., where he was reared and educated. He had lived in the local area since 1958.
    Wehnes served in the US Army from 1936 to 1969. His military awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal and Bronze Service Star.
    Wehnes was also employed with civil service at Fort Hood.
    He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association and belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9197.
    Survivors include his wife, Enid Wehnes of Killeen; one son, Charles G Wehnes of Houston; two daughters, Michelle Walker of Greensboro, NC, and Renee MacKnight of Houston; one brother, Arthur Wehnes of Red Cloud, Neb.; two sisters, Sylvia Gartner of Auro, Neb., and Ethyl Duden, of Hastings, Neb.; and three grandsons.”

ROSE/ROSA WEHNES

Daughter of Henry Wehnes and Tony.
She born circa 1905 in Nebraska. I can only find her in the 1910 and 1920 Censuses. She seems to have married a Mr Mercer and moved to the Omaha, Neb. area. She might by the Rose Wehnes who was living in Hastings, Nebraska at 112 E 6th St according to the City Directory of 1928. She was employed as a waitress of the Alexander  Hotel (there is an Evelyn Wehnes who was employed at the same hotel, likely her sister Evaline).

Edit : Thank you to R.Garver, I have been able to uncover some more information about Rose.

She was born on 18 December 1904 and died in March of 1985. She was the Postmistress of Hansen, Adams County, Nebraska from 1952 until 1956 when the Hansen post office was merged with Hastings.

Her husband’s name was Philip O Mercier (b. 19 September 1909; d. May 1974) and they lived in the Hastings area. In 1940 Philip was working as a foreman overseeing improvements at the Ingleside Hospital for the Insane (later the Hastings State Hospital and then the Hastings Regional Center). They have : Robert (b. c 1932), Kenneth (b. c 1934) and Marlene (b. c 1939)

LILLIE (LILLIAN) WEHNES

Daughter of of Henry Wehnes and Tony.
She was born 22 June 1907 and died on 14 October 1993 in the St Louis area and was buried in the Mount Mora Cemetery, St Joseph, Buchnan Co., Missouri. She never married. She appears in the 1926 City Directory for Hastings, Neb., employed as a domestic and living at 219 W 7th St.

EVELINE/EVALINE (EVELYN) WEHNES

Daughter of Henry Wehnes and Tony.

She was born 20 January 1909 in Pauline, Adams County, Nebraska and died October 1988. She seems to have married twice, once to a Mr Bauer and also to Mr Powell. She is likely the Evelyn Wehnes who is in the 1928 City Directory of Hastings, Neb., employed as a waitress at the Alexander Hotel. She was living at 421 N St Joseph Ave. I believe she was married to a Raymond M Bauer (b. 11 April 1908) and at one point they lived at 761 S Leyden St, Denver, Colorado

***

Henry Wehnes had married first on 10 March 1887 in DeWitt, Saline County, Nebraska, to Anna Maria Ilsabein Daubendick (21 February 1865 Germany – 11 July 1899) and also had a number of children by her :
HENRY WILLIAM (HEINRICH WILLIAM) WEHNES; b. 16 January 1888 Cortland, Gage County, Nebraska; d. 18 April 1983 Rapid City, South Dakota; bur. Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County., South Dakota. On his WW I Draft Registration card he is described as short with a medium build and with dark brown hair and light gray eyes. He married Lela Maud Smith; b. 14 December 1898 Oklahoma; d. 1 July 1982; bur. Black Hills National Cemetery. They were the parents of a large family :
(a) Ruby Wehnes; b. c 1920 South Dakota; m. Peters. [Possibly the Ruby Peters who was born 29 October 1919 and died in September 1984 – last known residence Piedmont, Wayne County, Missouri]
(b) Melvin Henry Wehnes; b. 20 March 1921; d. 3 May 1992; bur. Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis. He married Donna Cassidy on 8 March 1947 in Custer, South Dakota. She was born 19 August 1928.
(c) Nona Mae Wehnes; b. 5 March 1923; d. 27 February 1997; bur. bur. Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota. She married first on 6 December 1941 at Broadus, Powder River, Montana to Gene Leroy Marcher, son of Jens Marcher and Lillian Fremuth. He was born 10 March 1921 and died 28 September 2002. Presumably they divorced as she remarried while he was still alive. She married second on 16 November 1946 in Custer, South Dakota, John Peter Feiock, son of Peter Feiock, and his wife Pauline Huber. He was born 17 August 1915 and died 4 May 1991 and was buried bur. Black Hills National Cemetery with his wife.
(d) Lena Rose Wehnes; b. c 1925; m. Greer. [There is a record of a Lena Rose Wehnes who married a Epimenio Austacio Abeyta on 6 April 1943 in Rapid City which seems to be her – she must have married a second time as at least two of her sisters mention her as Lena Greer].
(e) Cleo Ethel Wehnes; b. 1926; d. 22 January 1944; bur. Mount Cavalry Cemetery, Rapid City, South Dakota; m. 15 July 1943 Pennington, South Dakota, Mike (Miguel) Enriquez Arriola, of El Paso, Texas; b. 29 September 1922 El Paso; d. 25 September 1998.
(f) Arlene Wehnes; b. 1928; m. 4 June 1947 Pennington, South Dakota, as his second wife, Bernard Wallace Rumbolz; b. 29 June 1915; d. 31 March 2000.
(g) Marietta Wehnes; b. 7 April 1930; d. 14 December 1998; m. 19 June 1949 Pennington, South Dakota, Charles Elliot Black, of Elk City, Montgomery County, Kansas; b. 23 February 1929 Elk City; d. December 1992.
(h) Jeneta Wehnes; b. 4 August 1931; m. 1st, [___] Herrera; m. 2nd, Willard Hoover Carlson
[Willard’s Obituary : Willard Carlson was born on March 8, 1932 on the family farm north of Slayton, Minnesota to Oscar and Violet Coyle Carlson. He was raised on the farm, attended country school and Tracy High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 13, 1952 and was honorably discharged on April 2, 1953. Willard returned Murray County and farmed near Garvin, MN. He married Mavis Wendland on July 19, 1958. They lived near Balaton and a short time in Oregon before returning to a farm near Slayton. They later divorced. Willard also worked as a truck driver for many years.
On February 18, 1978 Willard and Jeneta Herrera were married in Sioux Falls, SD. They made their home in Sioux Falls where Willard was employed as a truck driver for Golden Sun Feeds. In 1993 they moved to their home on Lake Shetek near Garvin, MN. Willard retired in 1994 and then helped his brother Wayne and his nephews on their farms. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on February 18th 2008. Willard passed away on his 76th birthday on March 8, 2008 at the Tracy Sanford Hospital in Tracy, MN. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Garvin. He also was a member of the American Legion in Garvin. Willard loved spending time with family and friends, fishing, watching sports especially golf and the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed playing cards and visiting area casinos to play bingo.
Survivors include his wife, Jeneta Carlson of Garvin, MN, three children and their spouses, Larry and Carmen Carlson of Clearwater, MN, Keith Carlson of Winthrop, MN, Roger and Kim Carlson of Slayton, MN, two step-children and their spouses, Maria and Larry Jones of Madison, SD, and Robin and Charlie Dawson of Shawnee, KS, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, one brother and his spouse, Wayne and Rosemary Carlson of Slayton, MN, two sisters and their spouses, Wava and Senator Jim Vickerman of Tracy, MN, and Wilma and Charles Gray Sr. of Slayton, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Wesley Carlson.]
(i) Henrietta Wehnes; b. 1933; m. 6 October 1949 Pennington, South Dakota, James J Leggett; b. c 1930 Oakdale, Louisiana.
(j) Jo Ann Wehnes; b. 1934/5; m. Arnold Moya
(k) Carol Jean Wehnes; b. 22 December 1936 Hot Springs, South Dakota; d. 6 May 2008 Aberdeen, South Dakota; bur. Mount View Cemetery, Rapid Springs, South Dakota.  She married in 1956 Gene Bauer.
[Obituary : “Carol Jean Bauer, 71, Aberdeen, died Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at her home in Aberdeen. Carol Jean Wehnes was born on December 22, 1936 at Hot Springs, SD to Henry and Lela (Smith) Wehnes. She lived on the family farm in Oral, SD. At a young age she moved to Rapid City where she attended school. Carol graduated from Rapid City Central with the Class of 1955. Carol married her high school sweetheart, Gene Bauer, in 1956. After marrying Gene, she attended the National College of Business, graduating with her Bookkeeping degree. Together they made their home in Rapid City and raised four children, when Gene passed away in 1988, Carol continued to work as a bookkeeper at the Rapid City Regional Senior Center, until 2003 when she moved to Aberdeen. In 2006, Carol was baptized at the Aberdeen Wesleyan Church. She was a life long member of First Wesleyan Church. She loved making cards, stamping, gardening, and cake decorating. Carol shared her life with her sons, Curtis Bauer, Rapid City, Kevin (Connie) Bauer, Laurel, MD; Scot Bauer, Florence, CO; daughter, Sheryl (Ross) Santjer, Aberdeen; and grandchildren, Casey Reihe, Gene and Kyle Bauer, Dustin and Mikayla Santjer; sisters, Jeneta Carlson, MN; Arlene Rombolz, WA; Lena Greer, CO; JoAnn Moya, CA; and Henrietta Leggett, TX. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Melvin Wehnes; sisters, Ruby Peters; Nona Mae Feiock; Cleo Arriola; Marietta Black; and Pauline Esmay.”]
(l) Pauline Louise Wehnes; b. 18 October 1939; d. 17 November 2005; m. 4 December 1959 Los Angeles County, California, James Richard Esmay; b. 7 October 1937.
[Obituary : “PORTERVILLE, Calif. – Pauline Louise Esmay, 66, Porterville and formerly of South Dakota, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005, in Porterville.Survivors include her husband, Jim Esmay, Porterville; one daughter, Debbie Patton, Visalia; one son, Tim Esmay, Arroyo Grande; six sisters, Carol Jean Bauer, South Dakota, JoAnn Moya, California, Henrietta Loggett, Texas, Jennetta Carlson, Minnesota, Arlene Rumbolz, Washington, and Lena Rose Greer, Colorado; two grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.There will be no services, at her request. Burial will be private.”]
EDWARD HENRY FREDERICK WEHNES; b. 3 November 1892 Gage County, Neb.; d. 5 June 1965 Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, Adams County, Neb. (he died there about 2-1/2 hours after being injured in a car accident); bur. Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Neb.; m. 26 July 1916, Mathilda Sophia Waterman (b. 10 November 1894; d. 3 February 1982; bur. Parkview Cemetery). They were the parents of :
(a) (Louisa) Leona Anna Wehnes; b. 31 May 1917 Nebraska; m. 16 December 1938 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Glenvil, Clay County, Neb., Henry Herman Fredricks; b. 16 May 1899; d. 9 November 1986; bur. Glenvile Cemetery, Glenvil.
(a) Thelma Carolina Wehnes; b. 8 February 1919 Amherst, Phillips County, Colorado; d. 20 October 1994 Hastings, Adams County, Neb; bur. Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. She married on 16 November 1944 to Joseph (Joe) L Williams; b. 3 March 1916 Melbourne, Izard County, Ark; d. 3 July 2006 Harvard, Clay County, Neb.
[Obituary : “Thelma C. Williams, 75, of Hastings passed away Thursday, October 20, 1994, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Williams was born February 8, 1919, to Ed and Matilda Wehnes in Amhurst (sic), Colorado. November 16, 1944, she married Joe Williams. She moved to Hastings in 1945. Mrs. Williams was employed by Woolworth’s Store for 20 years.
Survivors include her husband, four sisters, Leona Fredricks of Glenvil, Elsie Smith of Nelson, Ethel Mosier of Davenport, and Viola Traudt of Nampa, Idao; one brother, Darrel Wehnes of Inland.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, October 24, at Church of Christ with the Rev. Steve Ginn officiating. Burial was in Parkview Cemetery.”]
(c) Ethel Emma Wehnes; b. 17 November 1920 nr Venago, Perkins County, Neb; d. 7 December 2009 Hebron, Thayer County, Neb.; bur. Davenport Cemetery, Thayer County, Neb. She married on 16 September 1943 to Charley Wendel Mosier; b. 18 July 1911 Davenport; d. 21 November 1992 Nelson, Nuckolls County, Neb; bur. Davenport Cemetery. [Obituary : “Ethel Emma Mosier, the daughter of Edward Henry and Matilda (Waterman) Wehnes, was born on November 17, 1920, in a sod house near Venango, Nebraska. She was one of six children born to her parents. She departed this life on December 7, 2009, at Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron, Nebraska, at the age of 89 years and 20 days.
She was baptized into the Lutheran Faith on January 23, 1921 at Amherst, Colorado and was confirmed in 1934 by Pastor Eric Meyer at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil, Nebraska.
Ethel attended several rural schools in Clay County Nebraska during her elementary education years and graduated from high school in Edgar Nebraska with the class of 1939. She taught elementary school in rural Clay County, north of Clay Center, Nebraska for 4 years.
On September 16, 1943, Ethel was united in marriage to Charley W. Mosier in Belleville, Kansas; to this union two children were born.
Ethel was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Davenport, Nebraska, for the past 66 years. She enjoyed cooking and baking, crocheting, knitting and gardening. While still living in Davenport, she especially enjoyed sharing fresh flowers from her garden, taking a bouquet to the bank each Monday morning during the summer and early fall months.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charley on November 21, 1992; and three sisters, Thelma Williams, Elsie (Troudt) Smith, and Viola Troudt.
She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Bargen and husband Vic of Superior, Nebraska; her son Verlin Mosier and wife Sue of Davenport, Nebraska; her step son, Wendel Mosier and wife Carolyn of Davenport, Nebraska; and her step daughter, Shelby Ehlers and husband, Gaylord of Deshler, Nebraska; grandchildren: Michelle Galaway and husband Corey of Edgar, Nebraska, and Kendra Bargen of Hastings, Nebraska; step grandchildren: Ginger Neuhart and
husband James of Lincoln, Nebraska; Darrel Mosier and wife Caroline of Shickley, Nebraska; Col. Reynold Mosier and wife Susie of Manhattan, Kansas; Clark Mosier and wife Nancy of St. Paul, Nebraska; and Matthew Mosier and wife Kathy of Strang, Nebraska; great grandchildren; Harrison, Foster, Samantha, Claire, Oliver and Peggy Sue Galaway of Edgar, Nebraska; step great grandchildren: Jamie Hickok and husband Patrick of Juniata, Nebraska; Jessica Neuhart and Jordan Neuhart of Hastings, Nebraska; JoLynn Mosier of Blair, Nebraska, Crayton and Caitlin Mosier of Shickley, Nebraska; Kegan Mosier and Paige Mosier of Fremont, Nebraska; Blake Mosier of Manhattan, Kansas; Ross, Ryan and Joshua Mosier of St. Paul, Nebraska; Tristen and Zachary Mosier of Strang, Nebraska and one step great great granddaughter Bailey Hickok of Juniata, Nebraska; her sister, Leona Fredricks of Glenvil, Nebraska and her brother, Darrel Wehnes of Inland, Nebraska; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were on Friday, December 11, 2009 from Christ’s Lutheran Church in Davenport with Pastor Amy Krejcarek.
Pallbearers were her grandsons Darrel Mosier, Reynold Mosier, Clark Mosier, Matthew Mosier, James Neuhart and Corey Galaway.
Honorary Pallbearers were Steve Troudt, David Wehnes and Ruben Wehnes.
Interment was in the Davenport City Cemetery at Davenport, Nebraska.”]
(d) Elsie Caroline Wehnes; b. 26 October 1922 Adams County, Neb.; d. 27 September 2005 Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska; bur. Nelson Cemetery. She married on 6 March 1944 in Kackley, Republic County, Kansas, to Orville E Troudt; b. 26 May 1921 Lawrence, Nuckolls County, Nebraska; d. 15 August 1972 Lawrence; bur. Nelson Cemetery. After Orville’s death she re-married again to a widower, Gene Oliver Smith on 16 May 1981 at the Salem Lutheran Church near Nelson.
[Obituary : “Elsie Caroline Smith, the daughter of Edward and Mathilda (Waterman) Wehnes, was born on October 26, 1922 near Hastings, Nebraska. She passed away on September 27, 2005 at the Nelson Good Samaritan Center in Nelson, Nebraska at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 1 day.
Elsie was one of six children. She was baptized on December 31, 1922 and confirmed on April 2, 1939 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Glenvil, Nebraska by Pastor Erich Meyer. She attended rural schools near Glenvil and Edgar.
She was united in marriage to Orville E. Troudt on March 6, 1944 at Kackley, Kansas. This union was blessed with a son. After her marriage to Orville they farmed in the Nelson and Deweese vicinities until his death in1972. She moved to Nelson later that year and enjoyed working in Smith’s Café in Nelson until her marriage to Gene Smith on May 16, 1981 at Salem Lutheran Church, Superior, Nebraska. After his death in1983, Elsie worked at the Hilltop Café in Superior for a short time.
Elsie was an excellent seamstress and cook. Her specialties were cherry and gooseberry pie and chocolate chip cookies. She enjoyed doing yard and garden work. Her grandchildren, Jodi and Justin were the light of her world, and the arrival of each great-grandchild added even more love and pleasure to her life. Her faith in God was strong and continued even in times of deepest despair. That faith is the legacy that strengthens and upholds her family and friends.
Elsie was a member of the U.D. club, Busy Bee club and the Salem sewing group.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husbands, Orville on August 15, 1972 and Gene on November 19, 1983 and one sister, Thelma Williams.
Survivors include her son, Steven Troudt and wife Debbra of Nelson, Nebraska; two grandchildren, Jodi Essink and husband David of Clay Center, Nebraska; and Justin Troudt and wife Kim of Kearney, Nebraska; five great-grandchildren, Kayla, Kylie and Bryant Essink and Cody and Aly Troudt, three sisters, Leona Fredricks of Glenvil, Nebraska; Ethel Mosier of Nelson, Nebraska; and Viola Troudt and husband Wes of Nampa, Idaho; and one brother Darrel Wehnes and wife Sandra of Inland, Nebraska; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held on Friday, September 30, 2005 at 10:30 AM from the
Salem Lutheran Church, rural Superior, Nebraska with Rev. Barbara Bauer officiating.
Music was “How Great Thou Art”-solo by Rebecca Wehnes and congregational hymns,
“Just As I Am” with Sonia Schmidt as organist.
Pallbearers were Justin Troudt, David Essink, Verlin Mosier, David Wehnes, Ruben Wehnes, and Paul Slutz. Honorary Pallbearers were Phil Eckles, Dick Eckles, Jim Woerner, Allen Sjuts, Gene Buresh, Uyvonne Knehans and Loretta Feistner.
Interment was in the Nelson Cemetery at Nelson, Nebraska.”]
(e) Viola Roseanna Wehnes; b. 5 December 1924; d. 11 January 2008 Nampa, Canyon County, Idaho. She married on 18 February 1944 in Mankato, Jewell County, Kansas to Wesley Merrill Troudt; b. 30 May 1923; d. 1 November 2005.
(f)  Darrel Edward Wehnes; m. 30 April 1957 Ada, Idaho, Sandra Lillian Sole.
[Sandra’s Obituary : “Inland resident, Sandra Lillian Wehnes, 70 died, Sunday, January 7, 2007 at Bryan LGH West Hospital, Lincoln, NE. Services will be Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church, in Harvard, NE with the Rev. Dale Coates officiating. Burial will be in the Inland Cemetery, Inland, NE. Visitation will be, Tuesday, January 9, 2007 from 5 to 9 and Wednesday, January 10, 2007 and from to 9 AM to 9 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. and one hour prior to service time at the church. Mrs. Wehnes was born August 29, 1936 to Carl and Lucille (Barbur) Sole in Geneva, NE. She graduated from Hastings High in 1954 and attended the University of NE and Hastings Central Community College. She married Darrel Wehnes, April 30, 1957. She worked as a secretary at Magnuson Insurance and as a bookkeeper and grain marketer for the family farm. She had lived on a farm near Inland since 1958. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harvard. She served on the Inland School Board, the F.S.A. Clay County Committee, and the Clay County Historical Society. She enjoyed gardening, antiquing, and raising dachshund puppies. She is survived by her husband Darrel, of Inland, 1 daughter, Sara Jane Wehnes, of Lakewood, CO, 2 sons, David and wife Brenda, and Ruben and wife Anna all of Inland. 3 Grandchildren, Rebecca, Jason and Zeb. 1 sister, Caroline Hueske, of Grand Island, 1 brother, Burton Sole and wife Shari of Hastings. She is preceded in death by her parents, 1 sister and 2 brothers.”]
CHARLES (‘CHARLEY’) FREDERICK HENRY (KARL FRIEDRICH HEINRICH) Wehnes; b. 15 September 1898 Gage County, Nebraska. I was able to find Charley in the 1900-1910-1920 Censuses but nothing beyond that. He also has a WWI draft registration card that describes him as short with a medium build and having brown hair and light gray eyes.
(4) Anna Louise Wehnes; b. 16 July 1889 Cortland, Gage County, Nebraska; d. 1966; m. Arthur Albert Schultz; b. 9 March 1881; d. 9 December 1962
(1) Emma Cora Schultz; b. 4 August 1907 Nebraska; d. 19 September 1989 Los Angeles, California; m. Schmidt
(2) Cora Ann Schultz; b. 14 December 1908; d. 2 July 1994. She married William Calvin Thomas; b. 18 May 1909; d. 25 May 2004.
(3) Lena Marie Schultz; b. 10 February 1911 Clay County, Nebraska; d. 30 November 2013 Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society, Wamego, Kansas; bur. Wamego City Cemetery. She married 21 March 1934 in Hastings, Nebraska, Carl H Schmidt; b. 16 March 1911; d. February 1984 [Obituary : “Lena Marie Schmidt, 102, of Wamego, Kansas formerly of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2013 at the Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society of Wamego. Lena was born February 10, 1911 in Clay County, Nebraska on the family farm near Glenville. She was the daughter of Arthur and Anna (Wehnes) Schultz. She attended school in Adams County, Nebraska, before attending Bonell Beauty School in Hastings, Nebraska to become a beautician. On March 21, 1934, Lena was united in marriage to Carl H. Schmidt, in Hastings, NE. He preceded her in death in 1984. Lena was also a farmers wife and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. After moving to Manhattan, in 1957, she became a member of the First Lutheran Church and of the Church Ladies Circle, where she enjoyed fellowship while folding church bulletins. She took pleasure in and was gifted at crocheting, china painting, gardening and love for her family. Lena is survived by her daughter: LeAnne Leonard, of Wamego, KS; one daughter in-law: Arlene Schmidt of Hastings, NE; 5 grandchildren: Michael, Sheri, Susan, Kimberly and Keri; 3 step-grandchildren: Wayne, Dale and Tina; 11 great-grandchildren: Kyla, Brian, Brad, Wade, Nickolas, Christopher, Chris, Cheryl, Cory, Sarah and Chelsea; 5 step-great-grandchildren: Mikhaila, Chelsie Ray and Shara Briane, Hailey and Austin; and 6 great-great-grandchildren: MaKenzie, MaKaden, Angie, Aiden, Sabrina and Owen. She was also preceded in death by her parents; her son: David, son in-law: Edward, grandson: Keith, granddaughter: Karla, grandson in-law: Kurt; her sisters: Emma, Cora, Clara, Bertha and Marie and one brother: Earl. Funeral Services for Lena will be held at 11:00 a.m, Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Burial will follow at the Wamego City Cemetery”]
(4) Earl H Schultz; b. 10 October 1912; d. September 1984.
(5) Bertha Irene Schultz; b. 13 March 1916; d. 4 September 1992 San Marcos, San Diego County, California. She married Raymond John Baker; b. 25 November 1909; d. 12 June 1980 Covina, Los Angeles County, California.
(6) Marie Blanche Schultz; b. 7 March 1922; d. 11 August 2002 Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; bur. Geneva Cemetery. She married 29 January 1944 Kenneth Joseph Robare; b. 12 August 1918 Pauline, Adams County, Nebraska; d. 5 May 1979 Geneva; bur. Geneva Cemetery.
[Obituary : “Marie Blanche (Schultz) Robare was born to Arthur and Anna (Wehnes) Schultz on March 7, 1922, at the family home near Glenvil. She passed away on Aug. 11, 2003, in Geneva at the age of 81 years, five months and four days. She was the youngest of seven children.
She grew up on the family farm and attended District 72 country school. After finishing school, she moved to Hastings and apprenticed to become a cosmetologist. She received her cosmetology license in 1942 and later returned to school to receive her instructor’s license in cosmetology.
Marie was married to Kenneth Robare of Strang on Jan. 29, 1944. For the next few years they resided in Hastings, later moving to a farm outside of Geneva where she and Kenny began farming. They continued to farm until Kenny’s death in May of 1979.
Marie was a cosmetology instructor at the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center in Geneva for eight years and in 1972, accepted a position at Heritage of Geneva to operate their in-house beauty shop. Through her 20 years of employment with Heritage, Marie formed many wonderful and lasting friendships. During this time, Marie also willingly helped Farmer & Son Funeral Home in doing hair. Time was always of the essence and Marie was always willing to stop by the funeral home at most any hour so that visitation could begin for the family. Many were former residents of Heritage and she would fondly reminisce about them while doing their hair. Her touch was kind, gentle, and caring.
Marie was a member of the Junior Geneva Township Club, Geneva Grange and a 50-year member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she taught Sunday school for many years. She enjoyed sewing, especially for her girls and their dolls, gardening and baking.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters: Emma, Cora, Bertha, Claire and brother Earl.
She is survived by her children: Diane and husband Marce Palos, Deborah and husband, Jerry Henderson, Vicki and husband Randy Hesson, and Kenneth Robare; sister, Lena Schmidt, and grandchildren: Teri Shively, Robert Lewis, Nora Schoenthaler, Carrie Markley, William Chaloupecky, Timothy Shaner, and Amy Peterson, Great-grandchildren: Brandon Michaud, Johnathan Shively, Deven Schoenthaler, Marie Schoenthaler, Mackenzie Markley, Skylar Shaner, Samuel Shaner, Ethan Peterson and Elliott Peterson, and by numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were conducted from the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Friday, Aug. 15, with Rev. Lynn Strandt officiating.
Casket bearers were Henry Rohla Jr., Rodger Richards, Vaden Myers, Joe Dailey, John R. Brower and Bruce Hafer.
Honorary casket bearer was Randy Kennel.
Karl Brinkman sang “The Old Rugged Cross” and “In the Garden.”
Interment was in the Geneva Public Cemetery.”]

CLARA MARGARETHA CAROLINE (‘LENA’) WEHNES; b. 1894; d. 1949; bur. Clay Center Cemetery, Clay Co., Neb. Married Arthur Herman Fitzke; b. 17 April 1891; d. 1955; bur. Clay Center Cemetery. They had :
(1) Clarence Edward Fitzke; b. 16 August 1916 Clay County, Nebraska; d. 21 May 2006 Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Nebraska; bur. Edgar Cemetery, Edgar, Clay County, Nebraska. Married 17 March 1946 in St Francis, Kansas, Dorothy Marie Burkett; b. 12 May 1923 near Oak, Nuckolls County, Nebraska; d. 4 July 2001 Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Nebraska.
[Obituary : “Edgar resident Clarence Edward Fitzke died Sunday, May 21, 2006 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 5 days.
Funeral services will be held Friday May 26th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Clay Center with PMA Deb Rippe and Pastor Neil Vik officiating. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. in the Edgar Cemetery with a luncheon following at the Edgar Legion Hall.
Clarence was born on August 16, 1916 in Lone Tree Township, Clay County Nebraska to Arthur and Clara (Lena) Wehnes Fitzke. In 1919 they moved to Inland Township where Clarence attended Mulberry Grove Country School. In 1924 at age 7, Clarence and his family moved to a Lynn Township farm where the US Meat Animal Research Center Headquarters is now located. While there Clarence attended the West Lynn School 2 miles north. Clarence’s family again moved in 1929 to a farm in Marshall Township, south-east of Clay Center, Nebraska. There he attended Prairie Dale School and finished his formal education by graduating from the 8th Grade.
Clarence’s early years were spent growing up with numerous cousins in a mostly German settlement west of Clay Center. In fact, German was the language spoken at home until World War I, after which time he only learned English. He was born in the time of horse and buggy, when most all work was manual labor. Clarence started helping his father harness horses at a young age and he often told of his father letting him plow behind two horses for the first time at the age of nine. About this same time his father bought him a horse that he would hitch it to a small wagon and haul things around the farm.
The family moved to the farm south-east of Clay Center in the spring of 1929. Clarence said the house had coons in the attic and the windows were broken out, but his parents fixed it up and they lived there for several years. The years south-east of Clay Center were also those of the Great Depression and the “Dirty Thirties”. Life was tough and Clarence would work for neighbors to help make money for his family. He and his brother Eldon ran trap lines for a few years, catching opossums, badgers, weasels, and skunks which they skinned and sold.
Clarence learned to pick corn by hand while growing up and prided himself at being one of the best. Since everything was drying up at home, he traveled to Fort Dodge, Iowa and started picking corn for the Jim Bundy Family. He worked for them only a few years but made lifelong friends. He always said that he learned to dance there at the Bohemian Hall on Saturday nights.
When Clarence returned from Iowa, he started farming north of Edgar, Nebraska. He met Dorothy Burkett from Edgar and they were married on March 17, 1945. To this marriage were born 5 children. In1949 they moved to a farm ½ mile north of Edgar where they farmed until 1960. That year he quit farming, started working for Standard Chemical Company selling livestock feed, and moved to a home in Edgar, Nebraska. This would be the home he would live in for the next 46 years of his life. In 1964, he began selling livestock feeding equipment for Henke Machine Company which he continued to do until his death. He truly enjoyed his work and always said that farmers were the best people in the world to do business with. He could remember names of customers he hadn’t seen for years and could usually remember their family members’ names, where they lived, and what piece of equipment they had bought. He did business with farmers in southern Nebraska and all of Kansas. He knew his customers personally and considered them friends; doing business with many families through four generations. While living in Edgar he also served on the Edgar School Board and helped lay the ground work for the Sandy Creek School District Consolidation.
Clarence was a life long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clay Center, Nebraska. The original church was established in 1891 on land donated by Clarence’s Great Uncle William C. Fitzke, Jr. Clarence’s father, Arthur was the first person baptized in the church; and at the time of his death, Clarence was the oldest living member of Zion Lutheran. In later years, using his excellent memory and knowledge of family history, he researched and recorded his family’s history back to 1872, when his great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Germany.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dorothy on July 4, 2001; and one sister Irene Fitzke.
Survivors include 3 daughters, Sharon (Stanley) Floth of Sterling, NE, DeeAnn Krull of Ontario, CA, and Mary Fitzke of Kearney, NE; 2 sons, Dennis Fitzke of Omaha, NE, and Dale (Elaine) Fitzke of Devils Lake, ND; 9 grandchildren, Robert, Carol, Brian and Susan Floth, Alexandra Fitzke, Janice (Chuck) McCarty, and Emily, Courtney, and Austin Fitzke; 2 great-grandchildren, Cole and Chase McCarty; and Special Friends Mary Knight of Omaha, NE and Karen Welsch of Kearney, NE.”]
(2) Elden Arthur Fitzke; b. 7 January 1918 near Glenvil, Clay County, Nebraska; d. 18 November 2011 Rosebrook Care Centery, Edgar, Nebraska; bur. Glenvile Cemetery, Glenvil. Married 17 March 1945 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Glenvil, Mrs. Evelyn Saathoff nee Engel. [Obituary : “Fairfield resident Elden Arthur Fitzke, 93, died Friday, November 18, 2011, at Rosebrook Care Center in Edgar, NE.
Services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 22, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil, NE with Rev. Jeff Glawe officiating. Interment will be at the Glenvil Cemetery with Military Honors by American Legion Lewis-Trobough Post #256, Fairfield, NE. Visitation with family present will be from 4-8 p.m., Monday, November 21, 2011, at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil, NE. McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center is in charge of arrangements.
Elden was born January 7, 1918, near Glenvil, NE to Arthur & Clara (Wehnes) Fitzke. Elden was baptized 2-24-18 and confirmed May 1933 at Zion Lutheran Church 2 miles West of Clay Center. He is a member and former Councilman of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil. He attended country school in rural Clay County and graduated from the 8th grade.
Elden is a member of the Fairfield American Legion, the VFW, the DAV, & the Eagles where he & Evelyn loved to dance. He is a past member of the Clay County Cattle Feeders Assn and in 1982, was awarded their Long Time Livestock Feeder of the year.
His first job, at 16 years of age, was driving 2 mules on a wooden slip and a dump wagon to help build Highway 6 from the Clay Center corner to Sutton. In the fall of 1936, at 18, he went to Fort Dodge Iowa to pick corn and stayed for 2 years as a farm hand. He then enrolled in the Glen Martin Co School in Omaha and was the Foreman of the Steel & Metal dept where they built B26 bombers. Then was transferred to the Baltimore MD aircraft factory for 2 years before being transferred back to Omaha. On August 5th, 1943, his life changed when he was called to the Army to serve his country. Basic was at Fort Riley, and then to the Asiatic Pacific and the Philippines. He was hospitalized for 2 months with yellow jaundice and then sent to Okinawa on the Liberty Ship, where he found some of his friends from Basic training. One of them from Nebraska and two others were later killed. Elden was in Okinawa until the Japanese gave up, and then sent back to the Philippines where he ran a crane for 3 months to load the coffins from small boats to the ship. He spent 3 weeks on the ship to take the bodies to Luzene National Cemetery in San Francisco. He got discharged, a proud Sergeant, and took the train to Hastings NE, arriving on Feb 2, 1946, so he could start his new life as a farmer, raising crops, cattle & hogs.
On January 5, 1947, he married Evelyn (Saathoff) Engel at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil. They lived in Glenvil until August, 1947, when they moved to the farm 2 miles west of Fairfield where Evelyn still resides. On August 31, 1948, their daughter Judith Ann was born and welcomed to the family by Evelyn’s two sons, Jim and Steve Engel.
In August, 2005, Elden was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to Rosebrook Care Center in Edgar where he died on Nov 18th.
Elden loved his family – Step sons Jim (Shari) Engel and Steve (deceased)(Rita) Engel, of Fairfield and his daughter Judith Ann Foote of Casper WY. Grandchildren Jim II (Sue) Engel, Fairfield – Dale (Val) Engel, Hastings – Mike (Tammy) Engel, Chicago – Chris (Jim) Shuck, Edgar – Cathy Engel, Fairfield – Curt Engel, Omaha – Dan (Marilyn) Foote, Casper, WY Great Grandchildren – Katie (Ben) Bramble, Hastings – Zach Engel, Fairfield – Amber (Jimmy) Coffey, Clay Center – Andy Engel, Fairfield – Adam Engel, Hastings – Lexi & Jake Shuck, Edgar – Garrett Engel, Fairfield – Kelsee & Natalee Foote, Casper Great Great Grandchildren Morgan & Jackson Coffey, Clay Center & a host of Nieces and Nephews.
Elden is survived by his wife, Evelyn of Fairfield and one sister, Blanche Werner of Beatrice.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Step son Steve Engel, brother & spouse Clarence & Dorothy Fitzke, twin sisters and spouse Irene Fitzke and Lorene & Byron Gass and brother in law Ed Werner.”]
(3) Lorene M Fitzke; b. 19 September 1924 Clay County, Nebraska (twin); d. 15 September 2008 Perkins Pavilion, Hastings, Nebraska; bur. Edgar Cemetery, Edgar, Nebraska. She married in 1944 Byron M(iners?) Gass; b. 3 November 1919; d. 30 December 1999; bur. Edgar  Cemetery.
[Obituary : “Lorene (Fitzke) Gass died Monday, September 15, 2008 at Perkins Pavilion in Hastings Nebraska. She was 83 years at the time of her death. Lorene was born to Arthur and Clara Lena (Wehnes) Fitzke September 19, 1924 west of Clay Center, Nebraska. She lived there for 5 years and in 1929 her family moved south and east of Clay Center, NE.
She received her 8th grade education at Prairie Date Country School.
In the fall of 1938 she entered Edgar High School graduating with the class of 1942. She taught country school for two years and then in 1944 she married Byron Gass at the home of her parents north of Edgar.
They lived on a farm southwest of Edgar where they farmed unti1 1954. They then moved into Edgar and she taught in country schools at Angus and Sedan. Lorene taught at Edgar from 1964 to 1968 and then at Harvard for 23 years. She attended summer sessions at Kearney State College during the 1960’s graduating with the class of 1970.
She retired from 40 years of teaching in 1991.
She was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church, being baptized in infancy and confrmed in 1938.
She is survived by a brother, Elden Fitzke and wife Evelyn of Fairfield and a sister Blanche Werner and husband Ed of Beatrice.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Byron and twin sister Irene Fitzke and brother Clarence Fitzke.”]
(4) Irene Fay Fitzke; b. 19 September 1924 Clay County, Nebraska (twin); d. 3 August 1998; bur. Clay Center Cemetery, Clay County, Nebraska.
(5) Blanche M Fitzke; b. 6 March 1926 Clay County, Nebraska; d. 24 September 2014; bur. Evergreen Home Cemetery, Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska. She married on 19 June 1955 in Clay Center to Edward F Werner; b. 28 May 1928 Wisner, Cuming County, Nebraska; d. 12 August 2011 Good Samaritan Home, Beatrice; bur. Evergreen Home Cemetery.
[Obituary : “Blanche M. (Fitzke) Werner, 88/ March 6, 1926 ~ September 24, 2014
Blanche was born March 6, 1926 at Glenvil, Nebraska to Arthur and Clara (Wehnes) Fitzke.
She was a school teacher for 17 years, worked at Dempster’s Manufacturing for 14 years and then at Commercial Federal Bank for 9 years.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Beatrice, NE.
Blanche M. Werner, 88, of Beatrice, died Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at the Beatrice Good Samaritan Center.
Blanche is survived by her son Lyle Werner and wife Jan of Beatrice, NE; grandsons, Jacob Werner and special friend Shanda Layman of Beatrice , NE and Joshua Werner and fiancée Justice Hill of Beatrice; step-grandchildren, Tara Hatfield and husband Jason of Fairbury,NE, Ashley Farley of Beatrice, and Cody Grabouski of Lincoln, NE; 4 step-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lorna Waldmeier of Beatrice, NE and Berdean Juedes of Wahoo, NE; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Edward (2011); brothers and sisters: Elden Fitzke, Clarence Fitzke, Lorene Fitzke and Irene Fitzke”]

LOUISE MARGARETHE WEHNES; b. 13 December 1897; d. 19 March 1899.