Eleanor "Ellie" Hanning

KEWANEE – Eleanor “Ellie” Hanning, 85, of Kewanee, died at 10:16 a.m., Thursday, March 14, 2024 at Courtyard Village in Kewanee surrounded by her family.

She was born May 24, 1938 in Kewanee, the daughter of Floyd and Catherine (Quinney) Ericson. Survivors include her four children; Sherrie (Chuck) Boyer of Washington, IL, Terrie (Russ) Ehnle of Tremont, IL, Marci (Larry) Horrie of Kewanee and Rob (Jill) Hanning of Bradford, a brother, Terry (Claire) Ericson of Arkansas, eight grandchildren; Kristen (Ben) Briney, Lindsey (Austin) Wharram, Cody (Carly) Ehnle, Carly Ehnle, Connor (Alyssa) Ehnle, Tyler Horrie, Jordan (Logan) Smith and Paige Horrie, six great grandchildren; Austin, Adelynn, Wyatt, Owen, Gia and Sully and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Gene Ericson.

Eleanor graduated from La Fayette High School and then from Western Illinois University. She was a teacher at Bradford High School and later an aide for Belle Alexander School in Kewanee. She played for the Kewanee Ballhawks and coached various sports including volleyball, basketball and track and had the honor of taking 3 teams to the IHSA girls basketball state tournament. In 1998 she was inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame as a friend of basketball. She loved her family and enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren and attending their activities.

She had a remarkable sense of humor and touched many lives and will especially be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded following the services and private inurnment will be held at Bradford Cemetery. Memorials may be directed in her name for a memorial to be established.

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