Elizabeth Wenske

Elizabeth Eleanor (Betty) Wenske, age 96, passed away on January 22, 2015 in her apartment at the Kingswood Senior Living Community.  Betty was born May 8, 1918, in Chatfield, Ohio to Rosetta and Franklin Baumgartner.  She was married to the Rev. Paul C. Wenske who preceded her in death.  Together they served the Lutheran parishes in Ohio, Torrance, California, Spokane, Washington and Beatrice, Nebraska.  They spent a portion of their retirement years in Iowa and moved to Overland Park in 1995 to be near family.  Betty, who received her BA from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and her MA from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, was a consummate educator and musician, having taught a number of subjects in both elementary and high school, and a variety of special education classrooms.  She was also a church organist and a youth and adult choir director for most of her life.  While in Overland Park, Paul and Betty Wenske were active members of the Atonement Lutheran Church and, as a resident at Kingswood, sang in the choir and played the piano for various occasions.  Betty was a loving mother, a beloved grandmother and a true friend who always had a smile and a “hello” for everyone.
Betty is survived by her three children and their spouses:  Rebecca (Wenske) and Jim Floyd, Paul Wenske and Nancy Meis, Elizabeth (Wenske) and Tom Mullinax; seven grandchildren:  Alexis Burdick, Chris Wenske, Gretchen and Sarah Mullinax, Linda Stiles, Jeanette and David Floyd; and five great grandchildren:  Adya, Clara and Bria Burdick, and Tyler and Teresa Stiles.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas.  A visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. in the church chapel.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa designated to the Wenske Student Scholarship.
The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff in the Assisted Living area of Kingswood Retirement Center for the wonderful care and friendship they provided to Betty and her family.  We also would like to thank Grace Hospice for their helpful attention to Betty in her final days.

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