Eleanor Waneta Henning, age 87, of Curtis Creek, formerly of Liberty, IL, died on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Blessing Hospital. She was born on March 14, 1924 in Beverly, Illinois the eldest daughter of Elvin & Bernice (Kelly) Hinchee. She graduated from Beverly Grade School and Liberty High School. Eleanor played violin in the Beverly Community Orchestra and later played in the Liberty Community Band along with her future husband. She later graduated from the Blessing School of Nursing. In 1945 she was a nursing student Cadet for Mayo General Hospital in Galesburg, IL. After the war, Eleanor worked as a registered nurse for Blessing Hospital. Eleanor was offered a position as a private nurse in a local physician’s office. However, her high school sweetheart thought it would be a difficult position for her to leave and so he asked her to be his wife. As a result, Eleanor married Melvin Carl Henning on August 25, 1946 in the Zion Lutheran Church Parsonage. A marriage that lasted until Melvin preceded her in death on April 14, 2005.

Eleanor spent a great deal of time as a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Liberty. She spent many years teaching Sunday School, and was the primary Sunday School Superintendent for 25 years. Eleanor and her husband were instrumental in the formation of the “Young Couple’s Class” at Zion. Eleanor also served on the church council. Eleanor was also active in the WCTU and the local Home Extension Unit.

Eleanor was an excellent nurse, wife, mother, and a good friend to many. She used her nursing skills to help many in need of care above and beyond the time spent in her professional settings. She will be missed and remembered by many but the years spent teaching Sunday School help us to remember the promises of God that she is with Jesus now and we can choose to join her someday.

She is survived by:
THREE CHILDREN: Jan Miller and her husband Mark of Kingsford, Michigan, Donald Henning and his wife Linda of Liberty, IL and Joan Selburg of Peoria, IL
FIVE GRANDCHILDREN: Sara Miller, Lidonna Beer and her husband Stephen, Ian Henning and his wife Renee’, Bridget Davis and her husband Aaron, and Todd Selburg.
THREE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Declan Beer, Miriam Beer, and Valin Selburg.
ONE SISTER: Eunice Funk
ONE BROTHER-IN-LAW: Charles Kill and his wife Lina.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Joyce Elaine Henning and a sister: Shirley Kill.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 1:00 PM in the Zion Lutheran Church in Liberty. Interment in Xander Cemetery in Liberty. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Samaritan’s Purse Program or to the Xander Cemetery Association.