Janis Louise (Heng) Kinnison

Janis L. Kinnison, age 94 of Lincoln, NE (formerly Nebraska City) passed away on Friday morning; August 6, 2021 at Tabitha-Williamsburg in Lincoln.

Janis was born on January 1, 1927 on the family farm south of Nebraska City near Paul, NE; the daughter of Robert J. and Margaret (Volkmer) Heng, Sr.  She attended country school and later the Nebraska City Public Schools where she graduated from the Nebraska City High School with the Class of 1945.  

 She was united in marriage to Lester L. Kinnison on June 18, 1947 at St. Joseph Catholic Church near Paul, NE; and to this union three childen were born;  Patrice, Michael and Craig.

Janis worked as Deputy Otoe County Clerk for 8 yrs and later served as the Election Clerk in Otoe County for 18 years - retiring in January of 1989.  She was very active in the community and served on the NCHS Alumni Board and was a member of United Commercial Travelers since 1982 serving as Past Senior Counselor.  She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary and Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.  She was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, and Catholic Daughters.  After retirement, she volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital Gift Shop, delivered Meals on Wheels and enjoyed her grandchildren’s sporting and school events.  She also loved to cook and bake!

She is survived by her children:  Patrice Hahn (Michael) of Lincoln, NE, Michael Kinnison (Lea) of Lincoln and Craig Kinnison (Jennifer) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; 9 grandchildren:  Sarah McMillan (Scott), Adam Hahn (Joe Hergert), Meagan Hubenka (Nathan), Ryan Kinnison, Tonya Thober (Jon), Kaelin Clark (Bryan), Kelsey Korshoj (Lee), Clara Chanda (Jimmy) and Chloe Kinnison; great-grandchildren:  Arianna Hahn, Liam McMillan, Nikolai, Corbin and Marcella Hubenka, Emma, Jackson, Ava and Cohen Thober, Cooper, Mckinley and Cael Clark; sisters:  Lois Kreifels of Nebr. City, Mary Farley of Syracuse, NE; brother Robert Heng (Bonnie) of Lincoln and a sister-in-law Sharon Heng of Lincoln, numerous nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lester on Nov. 22, 2017; a sister Donna Lea Heng, brother Stanley Heng, brothers-in-law Harland Farley and Clement Kreifels, sisters-in-law Arlene Heng and Jan Heng, as well as her parents.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday (8/14) at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nebraska City; burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery .  Immediately following the burial, a time of lunch and fellowship will be held in St. Mary’s Church Hall.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday (8/13) at Gude Mortuary followed by a prayer service/rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to family choice for future designation.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janis Louise (Heng) Kinnison, please visit our floral store.