Lenora Jean Meinke was born Feb. 21, 1932, to Louis and Louise (Hackstock) Heitman of rural Crete. She passed away Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wilber Care Center at the age of 92.
Lenora attended District 88 School, St John’s Lutheran Parochial School of Kramer and graduated in 1951 from Crete High School. After graduation, Lenora moved to an apartment in Crete with Arlene (Znamenacek) Kerst and worked at Gooch’s Mill in Lincoln. She married Marvin Meinke on Nov. 18, 1956, at the parsonage of St John’s Lutheran Church. They started married life in Crete before making their home in rural Crete. To this union, two sons were born. Lenora lived a life of hard work as a dairywoman until retiring at the age of 70. Along with milking, she raised a big garden and canned an endless supply of vegetables and fruits from her own trees.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren always would brighten her day. It didn’t matter if it was in her early years of feeding bottle calves when the grandkids came over, or handing out fresh baked goodies to the great-grand kids in the later years, she always had something to share.
Lenora enjoyed bowling on the women’s league and on a couple’s league with Marvin. The highlights of her winter evenings were spent with the neighborhood card group. Lenora loved polka and polka dancing, listening to the Mollie B Polka Show and the Czech bands that would come into the Care Center to entertain. Lenora enjoyed a pastime of crossword puzzles, sewing, crocheting, playing with her dogs and mowing grass. She would admit to anyone that she would mow grass every day to keep from having to do housework.
Declining health brought her to call the Wilber Care Center home in February of 2020. With shutdown due to COVID during this time, the wonderful staff of WCC and the residents were her new family, with window and telephone visits being the only connection to her own.
Lenora is survived by her children, Dave (Judy) of Hallam and Kevin (Tammy) of Crete; grandchildren, Nick and Lacy Meinke, Leah and Jason Harrington, Eddie and Ali Meinke, Melissa and Edwen Rodriquez, Scott and Annie Meinke, and Doug and Tessa Meinke; great-grandchildren, Kinsley and Kaden Meinke, Jacob, Josiah and Jeremiah Harrington, Danny, Aubrey, Colton, Wyatt, Archer and Charlie Meinke, Isabella Rodriquez, Maverick, Joe Douglas and Walter Meinke, and soon-to-be-baby Meinke; sister-in-law, Shirley Heitman of Council Bluff’s, Iowa; brother-in-law, Harold Meinke of Crete; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Iverna and Mark Mercer of Wyoming, Michigan; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Marvin; brother, Ervin Heitman; grandson, Bryan Meinke; parents-in-law, Walter and Martha Meinke; brother-in-law, Eugene Meinke; and sister-in-law, Margaret Meinke.
Cremation has occurred and there is no visitation. As per Lenora’s wishes, there will be no memorial service, with a private family burial at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designation.
Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.
