Charlene Rhea Farwell

Funeral Services for Charlene R. Farwell will be conducted from the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. with Vicar B.J. Fouts and Reverend David Otten, officiating. Following the traditional funeral, cremation will take place and a private family inurnment will be at a later date in the Oxford Cemetery.

Charlene Rhea Farwell, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Oxford and McCook, Nebraska) passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Charlene was born August 22, 1933 on a farm northeast of Oxford in Harlan County, Nebraska, the eldest of ten children born to Otto and Georgia (Eman) Ludeke. Charlene was baptized and confirmed at the St. John's Lutheran Church. Charlene received her education at the Mascot Consolidated School, graduating with the class of 1950.

On April 8, 1951 she was united in marriage to Gayle D. Farwell of Stamford, Nebraska. Shortly thereafter Gayle was inducted into the United States Navy and based in San Diego, California and later served in the Korean War. While in San Diego, Charlene attended junior college. Following her husband's honorable discharge the couple moved to Lincoln, Nebraska while Gayle attended the University of Nebraska-Dental College and Charlene was a dental technician. Charlene and Gayle then made their home in McCook, Nebraska in 1962, where they established a dental practice. The couple was blessed with two adopted sons: Scott Allen and Joe Eldon. First and foremost in Charlene's life was raising their sons and she also worked as a teacher's aid in the McCook Public School System. She was a very active community minded person, her hobbies included playing bridge and collecting antiques. Charlene also opened an antique store with a couple of her friends in downtown McCook. She also enjoyed following her sons throughout their sporting careers and was an avid Husker Football and Volleyball fan. On July 17, 1993 she was preceded in death by her husband, Gayle. In 1998, following her retirement, Charlene moved to Oxford to be near her family. While in Oxford, Charlene enjoyed the friendship bonds formed while managing The Golden Generation Center. Due to her failing health she became a resident of Holdrege Memorial Homes on December 30, 2005.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two sons: Scott Farwell and his girlfriend, Julie of Lincoln and Joe Farwell and his wife, Yolanda of Lakewood, Colorado; three grandchildren: Austin Farwell of Chico, California and Jonah and Carmen Farwell of Lakewood; her mother, Georgia Ludeke of Holdrege;
seven siblings: Janis Einspahr and her husband, Virgil of Orleans, Ron Ludeke and his wife, Sharon, Sharon Jones and Karen Ludeke all of Oxford, Lana Jean Nitchie and her husband, Ron of Littleton, Colorado, Steve Ludeke of Lincoln and Rodney "Kim" Ludeke and his wife, Patty of Gibbon, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Carol Cox of Las Vegas, Nevada and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her father; two sisters: Diana Kay and Carla Ann both in infancy; brother-in-law, Calvin Farwell and his wife, Irene; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Deselms and her husband, Frank and Rose Shield and her husband, Eldon.

There will be no public visitation.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated to The Golden Generation Center in Oxford and to establish a scholarship fund for Vicar B.J. Fouts to further his ministry.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.