Virginia Kaye Avenell

COLERIDGE — Virginia Kaye Avenell, 75, Coleridge, died March 31, 2018, at the Careage Campus of Care, Wayne. Memorial Services will be April 4, at 4 p.m., at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge, with the Rev. Russ Lambert officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will be at Lawn Ridge Cemetery, Coleridge, at a later date. Visitation will be from 2-3:45 p.m., at the church Wednesday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Coleridge. Virginia Kaye (Otteman) Avenell was born Dec.19, 1942, in Fremont, to Lyman and Irene (Furstenau) Otteman. She was raised on a farm south of Laurel. Virginia attended a one room school house, District 103, for grades one-eight. She graduated as co-salutatorian from Laurel High School in 1960. Virginia attended Wayne State College from 1960-1962 and began teaching second grade the fall of 1962 at Coleridge. While teaching she attended summer school and night classes to earn her college degree in August 1968. Virginia taught second grade for seven years and remedial reading part-time for one year. In 1970, she retired to become a full-time farmer’s wife, mother and 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 and Virginia farmed south of Coleridge 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 and 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; Robyn (Ron) Hirschman, Laurel; and Jason (Alyssa) Avenell, Bennington; six grandchildren, Kelcy Sorensen, Omaha; Devin Hirschman, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; Kristyn Sorensen, Norfolk; Chayce Hirschman, Vermillion, S.D.; Caleigh, Nora, and Larson Avenell, Bennington; step grandson, Andrew (Rachel) Sorensen, Frederick, Md.; great-grandchildren, Hadyn Biggerstaff, Lydiah, Wyatt, and Sybil Sorensen; sisters, Lynda (Keith) Bartling and Barb Krueger, Norfolk; sister-in-law, Joyce (Don) Martensen, Hinton, Iowa; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Avenell, July 23, 1978, at the age of 36 years; parents, Lyman and Irene Otteman; brother, Gary Otteman; granddaughter, Taryn Joy Hirschman; and parents-in-law, Don and Lyla Avenell.