08/09/2026
Eleanor Lydia Stern
Eleanor Lydia Stern, 99½, passed away on September 4, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born on March 7, 1927, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Carl and Emma Ratter.
Eleanor was a kind and loving wife, mom, grandma, and great-grandma. She will be remembered most for one of her proudest accomplishments, the orphanage she started in Kenya, and for her passion for telling people about Jesus.
Eleanor and her husband, Paul Stern, founded The Rock Church in Danville, Illinois. For the last 20 years, she was a member of Lincoln City Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Eleanor loved to read and do needlework. Those who knew her loved her humor, her faith, her determination to persevere through all of life’s situations, and, above all, her love for her family.
Eleanor was a woman who appreciated her routines. Her schedule was important to her, as was her desire to look pretty every day. In her final months, she especially enjoyed spending time outdoors and keeping up a beautiful tan.
Eleanor is survived by her children, Susan (Jerry) David, Phillip (Linda) Stern, and Jon (Molly) Stern; 23 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren, with another due in October 2026; her 101-year-old sister-in-law, Barb; and her many, many friends. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings.
A graveside service will be held on September 16, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery, 3600 O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Memorials may be made to Kings Kids Village through encouragelife.org or through lincolncitychurch.org, with the designation KKV (Kings Kids Village).
If you are in Kenya and would like to contribute to Kings Kids Village in honor of Mama Eleanor via Mpesa, you can donate to Paybill number 247247
Account number 0766 222 997.
