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Eleanor Loretta Herbes Wollenzien

Mar 24, 2023

Eleanor Wollenzien, 94, beloved mother, sister, wife, grand and great-grandmother died of natural causes early Wednesday morning, March 22, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Eleanor was born in Red Wing, Minnesota on November 11, 1928. She was number nine of thirteen children. Of those 13 children, only her younger brother, Ted, still lives.

Eleanor was raised on a farm in Minnesota, and moved to Las Vegas after graduating from high school. There she met Carl Wollenzien who frequently came into the cafe where she worked. They married on October 18, 1948, and soon started a family.

They lived in Las Vegas 20 more years raising their six children with Carl’s parents, Jack and Lottie, close by. Eleanor loved Carl’s parents, and they adored her. Jack and Lottie were a great example to her in many ways and became her parents, especially after losing her mother at the age of 17.

In 1969, Eleanor and Carl made the decision to sell their home in Las Vegas and move to Orem, Utah, to start a new business venture, and the Village Green Mobile Home Park was born.

Those who know Eleanor, know that she loved Genealogy. She graduated from BYU with a degree in History at the age of 67, being the oldest graduate that year. Because of this accomplishment, the Daily Herald interviewed her, and when asked what her major was, she answered “History. It was an easy degree for me because I had already lived through most of it.”

Eleanor wasn’t just an average genealogist – ­it was her life passion! She truly loved doing it and helping others do it as well. Eleanor made several trips to Germany and lived in Salzburg, Austria, for six months in 1976, taking Kathy and Barry along. She wanted to improve her German so that she could better understand her familial research. She was widely regarded at the BYU Genealogy Library as an expert in German Genealogy.

Carl and Eleanor went on an LDS mission in 1993 to Frankfurt, Germany. While there, Carl suffered a fatal heart attack. She was widowed for the last 30 years of her life.

However, she never complained that she was alone although we all know she missed Carl dearly.

Eleanor was also preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Lory Wollenzien, and is survived by her six children and their spouses: Linda & Larry Hall, John & Donna Wollenzien, Ivan & Linda Wollenzien, Jeanie & Jerry Johnson, Kathy & Joe Simmons, and Barry & Nancy Wollenzien. Her legacy will continue to live on through her 125 descendants including 33 grandchildren and 85 great-grandchildren (one being born the day she passed away) with many more to come.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the LDS Chapel on 555 East 3220 North, Provo, Utah. The Nelson Family Mortuary is handling the funeral arrangements and condolences can be sent there.