Vena D. Pace

Vena (Underhill) Pace, 96, of Grand Island died on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Wedgewood Care Center. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, August 29 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Rev. Kelly Karges officiating. Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 PM Wednesday, August 28th at Apfel Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church or the Grand Island Humane Society.

Vena was born on November 30, 1922, at Stromsburg, NE to Samuel (Raymond) Underhill and Hilma Maudelia (Peterson) Underhill. She was the seventh of eight children.

She attended school thru the 5th grade in Stromsburg then the family moved to the Peterson Farm and she attended school at District 44 between Stromsburg and Polk thru the 8th grade. The family moved to Grand Island and she graduated from Grand Island Senior High with the Class of 1940.

She worked for Lewis Auto Supply, Dr. Mikel and Area Engineers when Cornhusker Ordinance plant was built. After the airbase was built she transferred to Post Engineers. Later in years she worked part time at Handy Grocery evening so she could be a stay at home mom. She worked for Sears, Ulrey Talbert and was Executive director of the Golden Age Village until her retirement. She was also a CNA for Home Health for 16 years.

She was a 50-year member of Rebekah Lodge and was a Past President of Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the Altrusa Club as well as an 80 plus member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Connie (Harlan) Sawyer, Jan (Ron) McKay and Rita Lanzendorf; grandchildren, Kari (Dustin) Thornton, Reily (Ashley) McKay, Kyle (Angela Flowers) McKay, Samantha Lanzendorf and fiancé Agustin Martinez, and Lyssa Lanzendorf and fiancé Mario Pecor, and Michael Healey and family; eight great-grandchildren and two on the way; sister-in-law, Daisy Sefrit of New Market, IA and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers: Earl, Morris and Ed Underhill, Sisters: Myra Underhill, Ruth Goodrich, Joan Bray and Shirley Wallen.