Eleanor F. Nienhueser

Former Juniata resident, Eleanor Nienhueser, 93, passed away Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the Mary Lanning HealthCare, Hastings.



Services will be Monday, May 12, at 10:30 am at the Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings, with Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Visitation will be Sunday, May 11, 2014 from 1 pm to 7 pm with the family present from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home, Kenesaw. Apfel Funeral Home, Kenesaw is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfh.com .



Memorials may be given to the Faith Lutheran Church, Hastings.



Eleanor was born March 14, 1921 in Adams County to Frank and Ella (Aufdenkamp) Finnigsmier. On March 19, 1921 she was baptized in her home. She attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School at Wanda Township for 8 years. On April 14, 1935, Eleanor was confirmed at Zion Wanda Lutheran Church.



Eleanor was raised and lived her entire life on the farm. As a young girl she did chores before walking to school. She learned how to sew, quilt, cook, bake and garden from her mother and Aunt Meta. As a homemaker she used all the things she learned as a young girl, and applied it to her life on the farm.



Donald W. Nienhueser and Elenor were married in Grand Island, NE on February 5, 1944. To this union three children were born, Wayne, Craig and Donna, Donald passed away January 24, 2000.



Some of her favorite things she enjoyed doing was gardening, canning and quilting. She had made quilts for each of her children (& spouses), grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing cards, golfing and bowling. She retired from bowling at the age of 89.



Eleanor started spending winters at the Homestead Assisted Living in Hastings in 2009 and returned to the farm during the summer months. In 2011 she became a permanent resident at the Homestead.



Eleanor was a member of Faith Lutheran Church where in her earlier years taught Saturday School and was the financial Secretary.



She is survived by sons, Wayne (Vicki) Nienhueser of Juniata, Craig (Sharon) Nienhueser of Kenesaw, daughter Donna (Maury) Ruhter of St. Johns, FL, six grandchildren, Jeffrey (Amy) Nienhueser of Juniata, Travis (Katie) Nienhueser of Juniata, Joshua (Kaylinn) Nienhueser of Holstein, Sheena (Nathan) Haahr of Juniata, Chad (Abby) Nienhueser of Juniata and Matthew Ruhter of St. Johns, FL, and eleven great grandchildren, Allyn, Hope, Halle, Briley, Weston, Blake, Cole, Aubrey, Luke, Mattie, and Kyle.



She was preceded in death by her husband Donald and her parents.