Eleanor D. Ronnebaum, 93, of Seneca passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Crestview Manor Nursing & Residential Living.

Eleanor was born on May 12, 1920, the daughter of Bernard and Pauline Renneger Heinen, on a farm two miles east of Kelly. She attended school at St. Bede’s Catholic School in Kelly, graduating in 1938. After school, she helped on the family farm.

On February 8, 1944, she married Sylvester Mathias Ronnebaum at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. They farmed northeast of Seneca until 1947 when they purchased their farm south of Seneca. In 1980 they retired and moved into Seneca. Her husband of 60 years preceded her in death on March 23, 2004.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and a former member of St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. She was an avid quilter, quilting until her fingers would no longer allow her to sew from arthritis. She enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, growing flowers and raising vegetables and canning the fruits of her labor.

Survivors are two sons, Bernard (Lisa) of Seneca and Wayne (Nancy) of Beloit; a daughter, Kathleen (Larry) Berg of Leavenworth; eight grandchildren and five great-grand children.

She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Lambert, Clem, Joseph, Lawrence, Albert, Clarence and Sylvester Heinen; and five sisters, Julia Conrad, Ottilia Rice, Isabel Wilhelm, Ann Heinen and Alvina Rettele.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Saturday, December 21st at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 6 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Church or for St. Bede’s Church and sent in care of the family.