Irene Terpening

Irene Terpening, 101, Linn, died January 23, 2015 at the Linn Community Nursing Home. Visitation was noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday, January 27 at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family received friends 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral was 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 28 at the Ward Funeral Home, Washington. Pastor Randy Jellison-Knock officiated. The congregation sang "How Great Thou Art" and "In the Garden" accompanied by Sheila Ouellette. Pallbearers were Patrick Terpening, Brian Terpening, Kevin Terpening, Greg Herrs, Nicholas Terpening and Shawn Damman. Burial was in Fairbury City Cemetery, Fairbury, NE. Nellie Irene (Reynolds) Terpening, 101, Linn, died January 23, 2015 at the Linn Community Nursing Home. Irene was born in Bates County, Missouri on August 7, 1913 to Glenn and Naomi (Henderson) Reynolds, the oldest of eight children. After living as a young child in Colorado, the family settled in Washington County, where she attended country schools. Irene graduated from Washington High School in 1930. She received a teaching certificate right out of high school and started her teaching career at Spring Valley. On December 24, 1936, Irene married Everett Terpening at Beatrice, NE. They lived in California until moving back to Kansas in 1938, where they lived and farmed until the Washington County State Lake was built and they moved to a farm near Endicott, NE. She continued teaching country schools until moving to Endicott, NE in 1958, where she retired from teaching after 39 years. Irene, a member of the Washington, Endicott and Linn Methodist churches, was an active member of the ladies groups. In the country schools, she loved to decorate and make costumes for plays. She and her husband moved to Linn in 1981, to be near family. Irene was a lifelong lover of adventure and travel. She was also active in instructing her grandchildren and others in arts and crafts. Preceding her in death were her husband, Everett in 1981; brothers, Elwood, Edgar and LeRoy; and sisters, Lucille and LauraLee. Survivors include her children, Donald Terpening, Raleigh, NC, Wayne (Marla) Terpening, Houston, TX, Doris (Lavern) Herrs, Linn; sisters, June Sokolik, Topeka, Margaruitte (Bob) Cornell, Evergreen, CO; sisters-in-law, Minnie Terpening, Belleville, Marjorie Wilkinson, Fairbury, NE; grandchildren Patrick (Kim) Terpening, Houston, TX, Cheri Parrish, Knowxville, TN, Brian (Kim) Terpening, Childersburg, AL, Kevin (Kris) Terpening, Houston, TX, Amy (Shawn) Damman, Topeka, Vicki (Eric) Bowman, Houston, TX, Greg Herrs, Topeka; and thirteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A memorial fund is established to the Linn Community Nursing Home. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Irene Terpening, please visit our flower store.