Elaine Hennings

Elaine Hennings, age 92 of Omaha, formerly of Wahoo and Fremont, passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Hospice House in Omaha. She was born February 25, 1932 to John and Elsie Kirchhoff Rippe on the family farm near Avoca, NE where she grew up, attended country school and graduated from Avoca High School in 1949, then attended Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln. On April 24, 1951, Elaine married O. Merle Hennings at First Lutheran Church in rural Avoca. They lived 9 years in Omaha, 23 years in Fremont, and 30 years in Wahoo.

Elaine was a loving and caring wife, mother and friend to many. Merle and Elaine had 3 sons, Alan, Gary and Scott, and after they were born her first priority was always raising her family. Wherever they lived she was involved in their church, teaching Sunday school and bible school at Luther Memorial Lutheran in Omaha and First Lutheran Church in Fremont. At First Lutheran, she was a member and officer for Church-Women, treasurer of the Omaha Conference of Lutheran Churches and a member of the Church Staff Workers of Lutheran Churches in Nebraska. She was also active in Mrs. Jaycees.

After the boys graduated, Merle and Elaine moved to Wahoo where Merle was President and Manager of Platte Valley Foods. They became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where Elaine was a member of Church-Women W.E.L.C.A. and treasurer for many years and served on the Memorial Committee, Altar Guild and as an usher. She was Financial Secretary for 13 years and represented Bethlehem for Lutheran Brotherhood Organization. She also was a member and treasurer of the Saunders County Hospital Auxiliary for 19 years and volunteered at the Wahoo Senior Center and Red Cross blood mobile.

In July 2013, Merle and Elaine moved to Walnut Grove, an independent living center in Omaha where Elaine lived for 10 years until health issues necessitated her move to assisted living in August 2023 then to the Josie Harper Hospice House in January 2024.

Throughout Elaine’s life, church and family were always important to her. She also enjoyed playing cards, bingo and computer games, putting together puzzles and working crossword and word search puzzles.

Elaine is survived by sons Alan (Cindy) Hennings of Omaha, NE, Gary (Marci) Hennings of The Villages, FL, Scott (Barbara) Hennings of Urbandale, IA; 8 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Merle of 62 years; parents John and Elsie (Kirchhoff) Rippe; brothers, sister and in-laws Maynard (Eva Mae) Rippe, Raymond (Betty) Rippe, Leora (Wilbert) Emshoff and Marlene (Richard) Sutton.