Guernell Ahrens

Guernell Landua Ahrens, 85, of Brenham, passed away Sept. 14, 2004, at Kruse Memorial Lutheran Village. Born to Will and Lillian Neinast Landua on Jan. 9, 1919, in Washington County, Texas, she was baptized on March 23, 1919, at St. Paul s Lutheran Church of Rehburg by Rev. Herman Weber and confirmed on Oct. 2, 1932, by Rev. C. A. Lehne. On Dec. 8, 1943, she was united in marriage to Erwin B. Ahrens in Eben-Ezer Lutheran Church of Berlin by Rev. Arthur J. Mohr. Guernell was educated in the schools of Washington County, graduated from Brenham High School and Blinn College, attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, and received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Sam Houston State Teachers College. Mrs. Ahrens enjoyed raising her children, teaching, gardening, and farming with her husband most of her life. She was an active member of Eben-Ezer Lutheran Church of Berlin serving as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and as a member and officer of the Women of the Church. She also spent twenty-five years teaching children in the Charlesville, Pleasant Hill, and Wesley Schools of Washington County, and later taught first grade in the Brenham Independent School District until her retirement in 1979. After retiring from teaching she became active in the local Retired Teachers Association, Trinity Medical Center Auxiliary, and also volunteered at Kruse Memorial Lutheran Village. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Gerald and Sally Ahrens of Conroe; a daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Robert W. Parker of Brenham; grandchildren, Matt and Lauren Parker and Jonathan Parker and fiancée, Heidi Nagy, of Brenham, Kathleen and Tim Barr of Houston, and Lynelle Ahrens of Conroe; one sister, LaVerna Landua of Brenham; brothers-in law and sisters-in-law Lillie Ahrens, Hilda and Ben Tegeler, Alice Rust, Helen and Herbert Nienstedt, Herman Jr. and Joyce Ahrens all of Brenham, Mary Winkelmann of Lufkin, and Mildred and Steve Franklin of Hempstead; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and countless numbers of former students. She was preceded in death by her husband, Erwin, in 1989; her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herman Sr. and Lydia Wehring Ahrens; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bill and Christine Ahrens, Harry Ahrens, Lee Ahrens, Lillie and John Spreen, Charlie Winkelmann, and Laverne and John Vash. Visitation with the family will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 17, at 11 a.m. at Eben-Ezer Lutheran Church of Berlin with the Rev. Teresa Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer s Association. The family wishes to thank all who provided love and care for Guernell through her journey with Alzheimer s, especially those from Home Health Home Care and Kruse Memorial Lutheran Village. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.