Nona A. Henke

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026. God's holy angels carried the soul of Nona Arlene Henke into heaven to be with her loving Savior, family, relatives, & friends.

Nona was born on December 6, 1939, to Arthur and Eleanora (nee) Schroeder Henke at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.

She became a child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on December 31, 1939, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Her elementary education, grades 1-8 was at St. Paul's Lutheran School. Upon her graduation from the 8th grade, she became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church through the rite of Confirmation on May 3, 1953. She was a faithful and long-term member. Nona continued her education at Lincoln High School graduating with the class of 1957.

After her high school graduation, she attended Wood County Normal School to become a teacher. After two years she earned a two-year teaching certificate. After her graduation in May 1959, she began her teaching career in a one-room country school, North Hansen, in Vesper, Wisconsin. She had a total of 14 students in all Grades 1-8.

She completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point by attending many summer school sessions, night classes, and weekend classes. She earned several extra credits from Viterbo College of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. After two years she left North Hansen and went to teach the fourth grade at Immanuel Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids. After many years at Immanuel, she left to teach at St. Paul's Lutheran School. She taught Grades 5 & 6 for 3 years. Then she went back to Immanuel to teach the third grade. She remained at Immanuel until her retirement in May 2002. Nona taught for a total of 42 years.

Her Savior was number one in her life. She spent 40 years out of 42 years of her teaching career teaching Jesus' precious little ones about their loving Savior and how to get to heaven. Those years teaching at the Lutheran Schools, was the most rewarding years of her life.

After her retirement, she became an avid reader. She also got to do a lot of fun hobbies, such as canning and freezing vegetables for her family and friends, cooking, baking, knitting, doing plastic canvas, ceramics and counted cross stitch. She ended up making many beautiful counted-cross-stitch pictures for her family & friends. Her greatest passion was to make a beaded Christmas ornament for each member of her family every year. Each ornament was totally different every year. This project continued on for 46+ years, and she not only ended up making them for her immediate family but also for many other relatives and friends. She makes between 250-280 ornaments every year.

Nona's survivors include: her nephews Robert Stake and Dwaine Henke; nieces, Sue (Rick) Trautschold, Cindy Loechler, and Lynn (Paul) Davis; her precious furry friend Rudy; Great nephews Scott, Bradley, Jeremy and Christopher; great nieces, Jessica and Molly; great great nephews, Tanner, Chance, Aiden, Brooks and William; great great nieces, Abbigail, Kennady, Ella Ruth and Makensie; blessed godchildren, Deb Knutson, Jeremy Henke and Molly Murphy; and by her faithful friend, Judy Jensen.

She was predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Eleanora Henke, sisters, Leila (Elmer) Loechler and Ruth (Raymond) Stake; brothers, Elmer (Margaret) Henke and baby Armin Henke. She is further preceded in death by many other dear relatives and friends.

Services will be held at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Peter Plagenz officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be held right after the church service at Forest Hill Cemetery.

I wish to thank my beloved family for all the support, help, and love they gave me through-out all my health issues. They were always there for me and were willing to take care of me.

Special thanks to Aspirus Cancer Center, Dr. Thomas Ho for his compassionate and faithful service for such a long time. Edgewater Haven Nursing Home staff for their wonderful care of me.

Memorials may be designated to St. Paul's Church and School, Aspirus Riverview Cancer Center, or a charity of your choice.