O. Merle Hennings

O. Merle Hennings, age 83 of Omaha, formerly of Wahoo and Fremont, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at Hospice House in Omaha. He was born December 21, 1930 to Elmer and Frances (Gauer) Hennings at Weeping Water, NE. Merle grew up in Avoca, NE and graduated from Avoca High School. He then attended business college in Omaha. On April 24, 1951 he married Elaine Rippe at First Lutheran Church in Rural Avoca, NE. and lived in Omaha 9 years, 23 years in Fremont and 30 years in Wahoo. He was a respected civic leader involved with numerous organizations in the Wahoo area including 24 years on the Wahoo City Council and 10 years on Wahoo Public Works Board. He was past president of Hilltop Country Club, a board member for the Wahoo Senior Center and a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He retired after 39 years with Platte Valley Foods in Fremont and Wahoo. Merle was a loving and caring husband, father and friend to many. As a youth, he trapped and would get up early and walk 2-3 miles to set the traps, then clean and stretch the pelts to be sold. He had a paper route in his home town, raised guinea hens and rabbits, worked in a local grocery store and, during the summer, worked on an uncle's farm. He was a family man and loved taking his boys fishing and later playing golf with them. He enjoyed the outdoors, playing golf and taking care of the yard with his 'toy', a small riding lawn mower. Merle wanted to be independent and had a chair lift installed in their home to get to the basement, allowing them to live in their home a few more years. However, breathing and eye-sight problems from COPD and macular degeneration eventually forced him to give up golf and driving. He and Elaine moved to an independent living center in Omaha in July 2013. Merle picked out their apartment because it overlooked a park and he would sit and watch the trees changing colors and losing their leaves. He was very thoughtful and wanted to help others, especially Elaine when she had her back surgeries, and when health conditions limited him, it often bothered him when others had to handle things he thought he should be doing. Merle is survived by Elaine, his wife of 62 years; sons Alan (Cindy) Hennings, Omaha, NE, Gary (Marci) Hennings, W. Palm Beach, FL, Scott (Deb) Hennings, Ankeny IA; 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; sister Marlene Sutton of Omaha; sisters-in-law Eva Mae Rippe, Auburn, NE, Betty Rippe, Syracuse, NE, Leora (Wilbert) Emshoff, Omaha, NE; and many relatives & friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Frances (Gauer) Hennings. Casket Bearers will be Merle's grandchildren: Brian Hennings, Daniel Hennings, Michael Hennings, Jeffrey Hennings, Matthew Hennings, Christopher Hennings, Brett Hennings, and Amy Hennings. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or to family for later distribution in his honor.