From a young age, Aleene had the heart of a musician. She studied the piano and later, the clarinet and saxophone. She enjoyed playing in the band, challenging herself to be the best she could be. Aleene attended Nelson High School her freshman year; then attended Platte Valley Academy, a Seventh-Day Adventist boarding school near Shelton, NE, the following year. Her junior year, she attended Enterprise Academy in Kansas. By the end of that school year, she realized that she was only short one credit hour to graduate, so she opted to complete her education at a nearby Junior College, where she completed her final high school credit and obtained a one-year teaching certificate for elementary classrooms. There was no pause for high school graduation for her; she was now a teacher and teaching children was her mission field.
Just two years later, she met “the boy next door,” Gene Schaeffer, by innocently going to his mother’s house to buy eggs. Aleene taught in Oak, NE, then in Topeka, KS, which just happened to be where Gene was working at a cheese factory. Just months later, Gene received orders from Uncle Sam that he was to report to the Army in January 1955, so a December 26th wedding was held. After only three weeks of married life, Gene reported to Fort Bliss, TX for basic training, then off to Washington D.C. where Gene served in the US Army for two years. Initially they lived in Ruskin, NE after the service, but later moved to Davenport, where they resided until 1973, being actively involved in the community.
Aleene’s lifetime career was that of a teacher. She taught school while pursuing her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education, which she received from the University of Nebraska. In 1974, Gene & Aleene moved to Lincoln, NE where Aleene joined the Education Dept. at Union College as Associate Professor of Education. She was awarded her Doctorate in Administration, Instruction and Curriculum from the University in 1983. At Union College, Aleene operated Kiddie Kollege, an early childhood development program used to teach college students the hands-on experience of daycare center management, which was founded by her daughter, Barbara. Aleene also taught a couple of post-graduate courses at Canadian Union College in the summer, completing her spectrum of teaching from Early Childhood Education (Pre-School) to Post-Graduate instruction. All in all, Aleene had 43 years of fulfilling her passion for teaching, leaving her influence on literally hundreds of students.
Gene retired from his role as Director of Grounds at Union College in June 1992. He died in September, 1994 of pancreatic cancer. Aleene remarried in March 1998 to Dusty Mills of Ong, NE.
Aleene loved gardening. Her outdoor flower gardens were always filled with color and variety, crafted with love. She never hesitated to get her hands in the dirt! She was also a quilter, making many quilts for others and not even one for herself. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great grandchildren, being known as “Nannie” like her grandmother.
Aleene was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; her parents, Rob & Lois Lines; her sister, Diane; brothers Nick and Steve; husband, Dusty; and grandson, Steven Warren.
Aleene leaves behind her daughters, Barbara (& Jerry) Helm, Linda (& Mark) Warren, Sandra (& Michael) O’Connor, and stepdaughter, Revee (Ian) Bailey as well as her sister, Patricia Brusseau and brother, Rocke Lines. Her life was full, blessed with nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, plus one great-great grandson.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday December 11, 2025, at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O St. A visitation will be held the hour prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m.