Marlene L. Chinnock of Alliance passed away Thursday, February 17, 2022 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.
She was born on December 31, 1931 in Lincoln, NE to Henry and Amelia (Herstein) Bell.
Marlene graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1952 with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education. In college she was active in Towne Club and Tassels. On July 27, 1952, she was united in marriage to Robert F. Chinnock at Salem Congressional Church in Lincoln.
In 1952, Marlene and Bob moved to Fort Sill, OK after Bob was commissioned in the U.S. Army. When Bob was deployed overseas, Marlene returned to Lincoln and began her teaching career. After Bob returned from the war, Marlene, Bob, and their children spent their lives moving throughout Western Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming, finally settling in Alliance in 1969.
Marlene loved people, especially children, spending much of her adult life teaching elementary school, with a specialization in pre-school special education. She was a devoted Christian who played the piano and organ in church when she was young, and she was a member of the United Methodist Church in Alliance. Marlene actively worked for the Alliance community, volunteering at the Carnegie Arts Center and the Box Butte General Hospital, in addition to being a member of the P.E.O. Chapter AH, American Legion Auxiliary, and BBGH Auxiliary. Marlene had endless energy and was full of joy and wit. She had a passion for life and loved nothing more than spending time surrounded by her family. Marlene and her family were blessed to celebrate her 90th birthday together on New Years Eve 2021.
Her survivors include her loving husband Bob, her children, Mary Chinnock Petroski and her husband Greg, of Kearney; Tom Chinnock and his wife Ann, of Fort Collins, CO; and Jodi Walker and her husband Jim, of Gering; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Julia Chinnock and her husband Erich and their children Tobias and Emmelyn, of Austin, TX; Lianna Bash and her husband Kyle and their expected son to be born in June, of Newcastle, WA; and Holly Marker and her husband Alex and their son Thatcher, of Scottsbluff. Marlene is also survived by her sister Barbara Hoffman and her husband Gary, of Lincoln, and their children Daniel, Deborah, and Diana and their families. Marlene was also loved by a large extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews who live throughout Nebraska and the United States.
Funeral services will be Thursday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Gideon Achi officiating. Burial will be in the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with family being present from 4-6 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to the Cattle Capital Shriner's Children's Hospital transportation fund.