Elnida A. Chandler

Elnida Ann (Schinkel) Chandler was welcomed into her Heavenly home November 13, 2015 after a brief illness with Lupus. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Wednesday, November 18th at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton. The Rev. Dean Hanson will officiate. Interment will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Tuesday at the church and continue one hour prior to service time. Memorials are suggested to the Help Care Clinic in Kearney, Pleasanton Volunteer Fire Dept., Mission Central, or Kingdom Workers “Little Talks With God” Project. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Elnida was born July 9, 1948 to Edwin and Martha (Luebbe) Schinkel. She was the first of 5 children. She had brothers Eldon & Paul, and sisters Karen and Janis. Elnida attended elementary school in Rockville and graduated High School from Ravenna in 1966. She attended Kearney State College and graduated with honors in 1970 with a degree in Home Economics. Elnida taught for 1 year in Elm Creek and substitute taught until 1980. Elnida was baptized on August 1, 1948 and confirmed on June 3, 1962 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna. The verse she chose for her confirmation was Revelation 2:10; “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” She was a member at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton at the time of her death, serving as Treasurer of the Kingdom Workers. She married Dale Chandler on June 22, 1968, and to this union, they were blessed with 3 sons and 1 daughter – Chris, Neal, Todd and Julie. Elnida left the work force to raise her children. Throughout the years of raising her children, she volunteered with whatever they were involved in including teaching Sunday School and many years of Cub Scouts. She and Dale owned and operated Chandler Well Service for many years, before their son, Neal, took over the business in 2005. Throughout the years Elnida had many jobs that she poured her heart and soul in. This included working at WIC in Kearney for many years and then was the health service director at Central District Health Department in Grand Island. She was also instrumental in getting Crossroads Homeless Shelter opened and running in Kearney. She enjoyed working as a Para in Pleasanton Schools, and she was on the Board of Directors with Buffalo County Community Health Partners and volunteered her time in setting up the Help Care Clinic in Kearney most recently. Elnida will be remembered by many as being kind, optimistic and adventurous. She was passionate about her garden and yard, and any free time she found she spent with her beloved grandchildren. She had a servant heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, and do it with great compassion. She modeled her life around Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Elnida is survived by her husband Dale, sons Chris of Kearney; Neal and his wife Lauri of Pleasanton, Todd and his wife Martyna of Florida, daughter Julie and her husband Caleb Strate of Lincoln; sisters Karen and husband Gil (Shorty) Krajnik of Malcom, Janis Keller of Martinsburg, and brother Paul Schinkel of Kearney. Grandchildren Grady, Carly and Lily Chandler of Pleasanton; Wyatt, Nolan, Ellie and Laura Strate of Lincoln, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Clarence Kuster, brother Eldon and brother-in-law Scott Keller.

Elnida A. Chandler

July 9, 1948 - November 13, 2015