Leona Mae Wittfoth Kumke February 1, 1929 to August 29, 2018

Lenora Mae Wittfoth Kumke, daughter of Frederick William Wittfoth and Rixte (Hemmen) Wittfoth, was born Feb. 1, 1929, at home in the Freewater School District south of Wilcox in Harlan County. She was baptized on March 20, 1929, by Pastor T. Seinkeisen. On May 28, 1944, Lenora was confirmed by Pastor A. G. Trost at St. Paul Lutheran church in Hildreth. 
 Lenora died at the age of 89, Wednesday August 29th, at the Blue Hill Care Center in Blue Hill.  Funeral services were held Monday September 3, 2018 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill.  Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes officiated.  Burial was in the Blue Hill Cemetery.
Lenora attended rural elementary school in Harlan and Franklin counties and graduated from Hildreth High School in Hildreth on May 14, 1946.
She attended Kearney State Teachers’ College during the summer of 1946 and received a 3rd Grade Elementary teaching certificate. She continued her education during the summer months and attained the Nebraska Initial General Elementary certificate, the Provisional General Elementary certificate and the Nebraska Junior Elementary certificate.  She also obtained a two year college diploma from KSTC.
She taught for 13 years in rural schools: Lynce District #59, Pleasant View District #36, Smokey Hill District #17, Blake District #62, Ferguson District #31. After getting her two year diploma she taught grades six, seven, and eight in the Upland Elementary School. 
Lenora worked for Kumke Construction, Dutton Lainson, and the Blue Hill Leader before retiring in 1996.
 Lenora Mae Wittfoth was married to Duane Fredrick Kumke June 14, 1957 at St. Paul Lutheran church in Hildreth. Their first home was in Campbell where they were members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church.
They had three children, Mariann, Mark and Janet. They loved in Minden, Campbell and since 1966 in Blue Hill  Her husband, Duane, passed away Dec. 15, 2007.
Lenora was a member of Blue Hill Trinity Lutheran church and LWML, and was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Bloodmobile.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Duane; daughter, Mariann; sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Lee Johnson; brother, William Wittfoth; brothers and sisters-in-law, Delton and Mabel Kumke, Loren and Alice (Kumke) Waterbury, Orville and Joan (Kumke) Kuhlman, and Raymond Kumke.
Survivors are her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Karen Kumke of Blue Hill; and her daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Daniel Lonowski of Hastings; sister-in-law, Wanda (Raymond) Kumke of Hastings; and brother and sister-in law, Jim and Lorna (Kumke) Dealey of Grand Island; seven grandchildren, Emilee (Lonowski) and Carter Pratt of Gretna, Nicholas Lonowski and Brock Kumke of Blue Hill, Kaitlin Kumke and Rick McEntee of Burr Oak, KS, Hailey Lonowski and Hannah Lonowski of Hastings, Derek and Jillian Lonowski of Kearney; two great-grandsons, Miles and Holden Pratt of Gretna; great-granddaughter, Kinsley McEntee of Burr Oak, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.