Eva Eunice Fanning Polly Bodeman

Monday, March 24, 2014

July 17, 1913 - March 18, 2014

WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Eva Eunice Fanning Polly Bodeman, 100 years of age, passed away on March 18, 2014, at the Sunrise Nursing Home.

She was born to Della and Clarence Fanning on July 17, 1913, in a dugout sod house. Eunice was a 1931 graduate of Wauneta High School, and she took a "Normal Training" class that prepared her to teach. Eunice furthered her education by attending two summers at Kearney State College. She taught in the rural schools of Glena and Spring Valley.

On Jan. 20, 1933, Eunice married Wendell Polly. They were married 32 years and spent those years farming and raising their four sons. Wendell passed away in 1965. Eunice married Virgil Bodeman on November 27, 1969. They lived on Virgil's farm near Hayes Center for 12 years before moving to Wauneta in 1981. They spent their 25 years of married life farming, traveling, and enjoying time with children and grandchildren. Virgil passed away on March 5, 1995.

Throughout her life, Eunice was an active, caring, and helpful neighbor in the Wauneta and Hayes Center communities. She was a member of the United Methodist Church over 60 years, and she was a teacher and superintendent in the Sunday school. She was a member of the Shiloh Club and the Welcome In Club and she enjoyed many friendships through the years. In addition, Eunice was actively involved in the Senior Center in Wauneta.

Eunice loved sharing her memories with family and friends. She was an avid gardener throughout her life and was very proud of the 50-plus violets she started and cared for in her home, where she lived until May 6, 2013. Another of her pastimes was keeping bird feeders filled for the neighborhood birds. Eunice was an excellent cook and a busy homemaker and she also found time for sewing and quilting. Nebraska athletics, crossword puzzles, and reading filled her extra hours.

Eunice was preceded in death by her husbands; her parents; her brothers, Virgil, Ed, Fay, Russell, Jim, and Jerry; and her granddaughter, Joni Polly Clapp.

Survivors include her sister, Donna Applegarth, Palisade, Nebraska and her sons and their wives, Kenneth and Dorinda Polly, McCook, Nebraska, Karl and Judy Polly, Wauneta, Gary and Diane Polly, Erie, Colorado and Don and Pat Polly, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Eunice's grandchildren include Rhonda Polly, Pueblo, Colorado, Dave Polly (Karla), McCook, Jeff Polly (Elaine) McCook, Sarah Hoehner (Chris), Kearney, Nebraska, Kip Polly (Kay), Wauneta, Kris Polly (Laura), Arlington, Virginia, Jon Polly, Los Angeles, California, Laura Savage (Bob), Steamboat, Colorado, Stephanie Hand, Omaha, Nebraska, Ben Polly (Tara), Littleton, Colorado and step-grandson, Dan Bodeman (Kristi), Texas.

Eunice's great-grandchildren include Heather Jones (Garret), Austin, Texas; Nickolas Kostos, Pueblo, Colorado; Retha Dun (Jeff), Sparks, Nevada; Sara Wood, McCook; Elise Polly, McCook; Logan and Julia Polly, Kearney, Nebraska; Nicole, Kellsey, and Trevor Hoehner, Kearney, Nebraska; Ian Savage, Steamboat, Colorado; Abby and Annie Polly, Wauneta; Caroline and William Polly, Arlington, Virginia; Tayler and Avery Hand, Omaha, Nebraska; and Jude Polly, Littleton, Colorado.

Great-great-grandchildren include Landyn, Kobyn, and Nolan Jones, Austin, Texas; McKenzie Farr, McCook, and Victor Giron III, McCook.

Funeral services were Monday, March 24, 2014, 10:30 a.m. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Wauneta, with Pastor Bonnie McCord officiating. Interment followed at Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.

Visitation was Sunday afternoon, 2 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home in Wauneta.

A memorial has been established to the Wauneta Senior Center

On line condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.