Zella Elaine Rooney

Zella Elaine Rooney

Dec. 18, 1922 - Dec. 2, 2011

BENKELMAN, Nebraska --Zella Elaine Rooney, age 88, of Stratton, Nebraska passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska.

Elaine was born on a farm north of Bird City, Kansas on Dec. 18, 1922. She was the second child of Earl and Marjorie (LeBow) Burr. She attended a rural country school called Sunshine Plain before graduating from Bird City High School in 1941. She went on to attend St. Luke's School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado, graduating in 1944. Following graduation, Elaine was employed by Morehouse Hospital in Benkelman, Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman and the Hitchcock County Hospital in Stratton.

Elaine married John E. Rooney Jr. on Oct. 8, 1946, in Salina, Kansas. To this union two sons were born, H. Michael and Patrick Earl.

Elaine was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ in Stratton. She enjoyed gardening and working in her yard. She also loved quilting and spending time on her computer emailing family and friends. She invested countless hours keeping her family's genealogy up to date online.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1984, her parents, and two brothers, Marvin Burr of Flagler, Colorado and Willis Burr of Bird City, Kansas.

Elaine is survived by her two sons, Michael and wife, Ruth of Bird City and Patrick and wife, Connie of McDonald, Kansas.; six grandchildren, Lisa and husband, Troy Rien of Lincoln, Nebraska, Michelle and husband, Tim Heinemann of Smithfield, Nebraska, Shane Rooney of Lincoln, Paul Rooney and wife, Shelley of Benkelman, Jenny and husband, Brad Owens of Benkelman, and Amy Rooney of Benkelman; and eight great grandchildren, Alex and Jacob Rien, Samuel and Julie Leibhart, Colton, Justin, and Konner Owens, and Piper Williams; nine step great grandchildren, Devin Watkins, Emma and Andrew Heinemann, Nichol, Jacob, Kiley and Chelsie Elwell, Chad Miller and Gena Olson. Also surviving are sister-in-laws, Delphia Burr of Flagler, Colorado, Bonnie Burr of Bird City, Tamzen Rooney of Atwood, Kansas, and Mabel Pulanski of Vernon, Pennsylvania; step sisters, Manette Henderson of St. Francis, Kansas, Inez Bargo of St. Francis, and Nadine Bryon of Lincoln, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Stratton the with Rev. Norman Morrow officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Stratton.

Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2011.

Forch Funeral Chapel of Stratton is in charge of the arrangements.