Marian Lucille Lanka

Marian Lucille (Bakewell) Lanka, born on March 31, 1932, went to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on Aug. 27, 2023, at the age of 91. She was the oldest child of Myron and Velna (Bay) Bakewell. Marian grew up on the farm west of Stapleton along with her two sisters, Judy and Arlene. She attended Nesbit Grade School and Baker Rural High at Stapleton. She wed Elton C. Lanka of Stapleton on Aug. 5, 1951, in a double wedding ceremony with Elton's sister, Lorna Lanka, and Laron Wright, at the Presbyterian Church in Stapleton. They lived in a baled hay house on the Lanka ranch north of Stapleton. She taught at the Cody Lake School for several years. In 1960, they moved with their four children into a new house that overlooked Cody Lake. Marian helped with much of the ranch; working cattle, calving and haying, along with raising the children. Going to Sunday school and church was the Sunday priority. Marian was a mail carrier for the north route out of Stapleton for 32 years. She loved helping with school where a daughter taught and then helping to homeschool several great-grandchildren for the past 20-plus years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Myron and Velna Bakewell; her husband, Elton; brother-in-law, Frank Lanka; step-mother Wilma (Foight) Bakewell; son-in-law, Mike Pollnow; and step-sister-in-law, Beth Foight. She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Cecil Lee) Wonch of Gandy, Vanessa (George) Grimsley of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and Sue Pollnow of Eaton, Colorado; her son, Rex (Bethany) Lanka of Stapleton; her sisters, Judy (Clarence) Lanka of Stapleton and Arlene (Tom) Collins of Shawnee, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Lorna Lane of Kearney and Connie Krusinowski of Omaha; brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Margie) Lanka of Lincoln; step-sister, Darla Parker of North Platte; step-brother, Lyle Foight of Paxton; 10 grandchildren, Travi (D'Arcy) Rambali of McCook, Angie (Daniel) Hopper of Stapleton, Lee (DanDee) Wonch of Arnold, Amanda (Mike) Fletcher of Arnold, Adam (Melani) Wonch of Gandy, Josh Nelson of Urbandale, Iowa, Ranae (DJ) Selmeyer of Lansing, Michigan, Samantha (Chris) Ewing of Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, Owen (Kim) Johnson of Eaton, Colorado, and Luke (Maggie) Johnson of Gering; 32 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her great smile and many acts of kindness. Memorials are suggested in her name. Online condolences can be shared at adamsswanson.com. Funeral service is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at the Gandy Community Bible Church with Pastor Lee Wonch officiating. Burial follows at the Loup Valley Cemetery, Stapleton. The service will be livestreamed at adamsswanson.com. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.