Leona Maria (Ahrens) Warnsholz, 93, of Lincoln, passed away March 5, 2017. Born April 13, 1923, to Erich and Clara (Suhr) Ahrens, on a farm near St. Michael, Nebraska. She was baptized on April 20, 1923, at Zion Lutheran Church, Shelton, Nebraska. She moved with her family to Seward County, March 1926, later attending grade school at Immanuel Lutheran in Staplehurst, Nebraska for 8 years. Confirmed May 31 1936 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Staplehurst, Nebraska. Ninth grade was at Staplehurst High and 10 through 12 in Seward High graduating May 1940.
Worked at domestic work and helping out at home until she married George H. Warnholz at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Seward, Nebraska on November 15, 1945. Their marriage was blessed with 2 children, Merle of Davenport, Iowa and Janelle of Lincoln, Nebraska. They lived in Malcolm, Nebraska almost fifteen years before moving to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1960.
Employed in the then new Kresge store in Gateway, was a candy packer at Russell Stovers Candy Factory for 19 years, nurse’s aide and CSM for 9 years at Gateway Manor Retirement Apartments.
Member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Women of Redeemer, life member of Garland Legion Auxiliary Unit 369, Garland, Nebraska.
Survivors: son and daughter-in-law, Merle and Lois Warnsholz, Davenport, IA, and daughter, Janelle Schmale of Lincoln; grandchildren, Lori and Jeff Whalen of Utica, Illinois, Jill and Matt Schmitzer of Bettendorf, Iowa, Gary Schmale and Jody Schmale of Lincoln; sister and brother-law, Geraldine and Byron Brigham of Seward, Nebraska, brother and sister-in-law, Merlin and Bert Ahrens of Palm Coast, Florida; sister-in-law, Doris Ahrens of Seward, Nebraska; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by husband, George Warnsholz; parents; brothers, Victor and Elwin Ahrens, step-mother, Martha (Weishahn) Ahrens; step-brothers, Eldo Weishahn and Warren Weishahn; and step-sister Iola (Weishahn) Hermson.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (3-11-17) Redeemer Lutheran Church, 510 South 33rd St. with Pastor Michael Brown officiating.
Memorials to family for creation of nursing scholarship in Leona’s honor.
Visitation with family present 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Friday at Roper and Sons, 4300’O’ St.