Obituary Record

Ruth (Widener) Jahnel
Died on 2/12/2009
Buried in Blair Cemetery

Ruth Jahnel, 96

Ruth Jahnel, 96, of Blair, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Monday, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Ruth Widener was born Sept. 25, 1912, in Washington County to Robert Lee and Christina (Sorensen) Widener. She was very close to her brothers, Howard and Paul.

From 1912 to 1941, she lived in Washington County. She attended Blair Schools with the exception of the eighth grade, when she moved with her parents to a farm north of Blair. She graduated in 1930 from Blair High School. She received her teaching certificate from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. * She stopped teaching after 10 years, deciding it was time to get married and start a family. On Dec. 20, 1941, she married former Blair resident Walter “Walt” William Jahnel of Tekamah in a private ceremony at a Lutheran church in Omaha. Their witnesses were Walt’s best friend, and Ruth’s brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Alma. *

In the 1950’s, the Jahnels opened their home to a young man just getting out of the Army. A.J. “Jack” Smith was always referred to in their home as “the son we never had.” *

Mrs. Jahnel founded the “Ellendale Knitting Club.” The 12 member club met for more than 10 years. She loved life, her family, the farm, friends and church. She enjoyed canning, cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, refinishing furniture, and doing to auctions, estate and garage sales. * She was a caring person, teacher, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Dean Raabe of Fremont and Marilyn and Curtis Petersen of Carrollton, Texas; three granddaughters and 10 great-grandchildren; special family member, A.J. “Jack” Smith of Seattle, Wash.; brother-in-law, Robert Jahnel of Blair; and nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and students.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Walt; brothers, Howard and Paul Widener; and an infant brother, John.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Tekamah or the Tekamah Fire Department.

* note, see full obituary at Blair Library for other details

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 2/17/2009


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