ReNelda Ann Wenburg

ReNelda Ann Wenburg, age 95, of Cozad, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Pathfinders Assisted Living in Fremont, Nebraska.  She was born May 10, 1928, in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, to Frances Marie “Hazel” Langan and Joseph Henry Boesch.  She was the oldest of 7 children.

The Boesch family moved to Cozad, Nebraska, in 1942.  ReNelda graduated from Cozad High School with the class of 1945.  She married Cozad resident Harold Junior Wenburg on June 6, 1946, in Norton, Kansas.  To this union were born three children, James, Donald, and Carolyn.

ReNelda was always a hard worker and held a number of different positions in Cozad, most notably working for Monroe Auto from 1962 until 1990, working her way up to being a quality control foreman.  Additionally, ReNelda enjoyed serving as an Avon representative for over 50 years.  

For over 75 years, ReNelda was a member of Cozad Parkview Methodist Church (later known as First United Methodist Church after the merger of two congregations). She held a number of offices over the years at the church.  She was a member and past Matron of Order of Eastern Star #74 of Cozad and was past district and local president of VFW Auxiliary #890 of Cozad.  She served on the board of the Cozad Grand Generation Center, and she donated over 18 gallons of blood through the American Red Cross.  ReNelda enjoyed traveling, dancing, and spending time with family.  She enjoyed reading, Bible study, and sewing.  She and Harold enjoyed a number of bus tours.

She moved to Meadowlark Pointe Assisted Living in Cozad on January 16, 2020, and stayed there until October 1, 2022, when she relocated to Pathfinders Assisted Living in Fremont, Nebraska, to be closer to her daughter.  The move to assisted living surely would have been sooner if it hadn’t been for her special neighbors, Eric and Ann Seaman. 

ReNelda was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Donald; daughter-in-law, Rogene Wenburg; brothers, Martin Boesch and William (Billy) Boesch; sisters, Jolietta Tillemans, Sodona Hedlund, and Bethene Darling; and several nephews and other family members.

Survivors include son, James Wenburg of Hastings, Nebraska; daughter, Carolyn (Rev. Douglas) Smith of Fremont, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Sandy Wenburg of Dundee, Michigan; sister, Anna Marie Hellbusch of Albion, Nebraska; eight grandchildren, Dr. Justin (Kili) Wenburg of Hastings, Nebraska; Dr. Aaron (Andrea) Wenburg of North Platte, Nebraska;  Dr. Chris (Dr. Jillian) Wenburg of Kansas City, Missouri; Rev. Ryan (Beth) Wenburg of Frankenmuth, Michigan; Keri (Tracy) Secor of Petersburg, Michigan; Daren (Marci) Smith of Roswell, Georgia; Heather (Adam) Leuschen of Palmyra, Nebraska; Misti (Brandon) Crow of Bennington, Nebraska; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Grand Generation Center (Senior Center) of Cozad or the First United Methodist Church of Cozad.