Virginia Kaye Avenell

Virginia Kaye Avenell, age 75 of Coleridge, Nebraska, died on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Careage Campus of Care in Wayne, NE. Memorial Services will be on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge with the Rev. Russ Lambert officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will be at Lawn Ridge cemetery in Coleridge at a later date. Visitation will be from 2-3:45 at church on Wednesday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Coleridge. Virginia Kaye (Otteman) Avenell was born December 19, 1942 in Fremont, Nebraska to Lyman & Irene (Furstenau) Otteman. She was raised on a farm south of Laurel, Nebraska. Virginia attended a one room school house, District 103, for grades 1-8. She graduated as co-salutatorian from Laurel High School in 1960. Virginia attended Wayne State College from 1960-1962 and began teaching 2nd grade the fall of 1962 at Coleridge, Nebraska. While teaching she attended summer school and night classes to earn her college degree in August of 1968. Virginia taught 2nd grade for 7 years and remedial reading part-time for one year. In 1970, she retired to become a full-time farmer’s wife, mother, & homemaker. She married her husband Larry L. Avenell October 25, 1968. Virginia gave her groom a wedding band with the saying 1-4-3 MTY-LTT. I love you more than yesterday - less than tomorrow. This term of endearment has been carried on with her children and grandchildren. Larry & Virginia farmed south of town and with his parents. The family lived on this farm until Larry’s death in 1978. Virginia and their three children moved into town the fall of 1978. Virginia continued to farm until the farm crisis of 1985. At that time, she went back to college to update her teaching certificate. She then did substitute teaching and private tutoring. Education was very important to her. In the spring of 1987, Virginia went to work for HTI as a telemarketer, trainer, and supervisor. Music was also very important to her. She took singing lessons in high school and earned several superior ratings. From 1980-1991 she directed the Immanuel Lutheran Church Senior Choir. She also sang in the Easter Cantatas for the Laurel Community Chorus for several years. Virginia loved to read, to learn, and watch news magazine shows and educational programs. She was an excellent cook. She loved perfume and always wore it. Virginia adored her children and their spouses, grandchildren & grand-puppies. One of her greatest accomplishments was earning the title of “Nana” and she loved spending time with her family. Virginia is survived by her three children: Cinda (Steve) Sorensen, Omaha, NE; Robyn (Ron) Hirschman, Laurel, NE; and Jason (Alyssa) Avenell, Bennington, NE; 6 grandchildren: Kelcy Sorensen, Omaha, NE; Devin Hirschman, Sergeant Bluff, IA; Kristyn Sorensen, Norfolk, NE; Chayce Hirschman, Vermillion, SD; Caleigh, Nora, and Larson Avenell, Bennington, NE; step grandson, Andrew (Rachel) Sorensen, Frederick, MD; great grandchildren, Hadyn Biggerstaff, Lydiah, Wyatt, and Sybil Sorensen; sisters; Lynda (Keith) Bartling and Barb Krueger, Norfolk, NE; Sister-in-law; Joyce (Don) Martensen, Hinton, IA; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Avenell on July 23, 1978 at the age of 36 years; parents, Lyman and Irene Otteman; brother, Gary Otteman, granddaughter, Taryn Joy Hirschman, parents in law, Don and Lyla Avenell.