Juanalee Alden

Juanalee Irene (Oestmann) Alden was born on March 16, 1935 to Arthur and Theresa Oestmann of rural Auburn. A sister Rita was also born to this marriage. Juanalee attended Harmon and Cochran country schools and graduated from Auburn High School in 1951 at the age of 16. She then attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and graduated in 1955 with a B.A. in Education. While at NWU, she was a member of the Phi Mu sorority, Panhellinic Board, and Cardinal Key. She was selected as a member of the American Association of University Women and Who?s Who in American Universities.

Juanalee and Richard ?Dick? Alden were married on June 17, 1956 at Hickory Grove Lutheran Church near Auburn. Juanalee taught upper elementary grades in Lincoln and Auburn Public Schools and at Punahou, a private school in Honolulu, Hawaii while Dick was stationed on Oahu with the Army.

In 1958, upon Dick and Juanalee?s return to Auburn from Hawaii, they became members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn, where she served on the church council and was a member of the Dorothea Wood Circle. She also served on the State Board of Lutheran Church Women and Southeast Nebraska Mediation Board. Juanalee was Auburn Adult Education Board Coordinator and a member of the P.E.O. sisterhood, serving on many committees and as an officer of Chapter DB.

Dick and Juanalee were co-owners of Alden Western Sales for 14 years. Shopping, decorating, travelling, spending time at Lake of the Ozarks, and enjoying the company of family and friends gave her great enjoyment in life.

Juanalee passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn on Saturday, February 18, 2012. She was surrounded by the family she loved so dearly and which will greatly miss her guidance, caring, and support.

Juanalee is preceded in death by her parents, and survived by her husband Richard of Auburn; daughter Kimberley and husband Robert Stafford of Omaha; son Rich and wife Ann of Auburn; two grandchildren, Cady Alden and Reid Alden; sister Rita and husband Robert Seiler of Omaha; two nephews, Rob and wife Chris Seiler and Scott and wife Jacque Seiler; two great-nephews; uncle and aunt Louis and Ruth Oestmann; numerous cousins and many dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Auburn, Nebraska on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at Hemmingsen Funeral Home on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends 6:00 to 8:00.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Good Samaritan Society-Auburn, St. Paul Lutheran Church, or Tabitha Hospice.

Dick, Kim, and Rich would like to thank family and friends for your calls, cards, flowers, gifts, visits, thoughts and prayers during the months of Juanalee?s illness. It is a comfort to know she was loved and will be greatly missed.