Holly Ellen Werning, 78, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Country House Residence in Cedar Rapids, IA due to an extended illness. Celebration of Life Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27 at Brosh Chapel and the Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW. The Celebration of Life Service will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Gathering in the Avacentre until 1:00 p.m.

Holly was born on February 1, 1948, the daughter of Leslie and Lorrene Hendriks, in Muscatine, IA. She grew up in Muscatine in a very musical family that enjoyed playing instruments and singing together. She enjoyed playing the organ and piano for church, weddings, and musicals all her life.

She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1965. She then went on to get her teaching degree from Northeast Missouri State College in Kirksville, MO, graduating in 1970. Her first teaching experience was for Benton Community Schools, and this is where she met her husband Virgil in 1972.

They were married in 1973 and lived on their first farm, south of Newhall. In 1974 Holly resigned from teaching and decided to open the Kiddie Kampus Preschool on their farm, because there were no pre-schools in the area. They used an old milking parlor on the farm and turned it into an amazing pre-school full of her favorite color, red. For years, she taught hundreds of kids in the Benton County area, including many of their daughters’ friends. Daughter Wendy was born in 1975 and daughter Kami Jo in 1979.

She then went on to teach preschool in various places in Cedar Rapids, such as the YWCA, Rocking Horse, and Teddy Bear Child Care Center. Holly retired from Teddy Bear in 2009. During retirement she continued to substitute teach for various districts in the area.

Holly spent most of her adult life playing organ and piano for the First Christian Church in Vinton, IA where she made many lifelong friendships. She loved celebrating others on their birthdays and holidays. She was always giving gifts to family and friends, and sending cards for every special occasion. She never missed an opportunity to send a card to the special people in her life!

Holly loved watching her daughters in all their music and sports activities as they grew up. When the grandkids came along, she never missed an event. They were by far her greatest joy!

In 2012, the Werning family sold the farm and moved to Ely, Iowa to be closer to their kids and grandkids. “Grandma Holly” was always ready to babysit for their three grandkids any moment she could.

Holly was preceded in death by her loving husband Virgil Werning; brother Scott Hendriks; brothers-in-law Marion Werning and Bob Frimml and her parents. She is survived by her daughters Wendy (Tim) Wheeler of Solon and Kami Jo Upah (Chris Dunker) of Keystone; grandchildren Payton and Tyson Wheeler and Tucker Upah; brother Jeff (Cathy) Hendriks, sister Heidi (Kevin) Fields, sisters-in-law Peggy Hendriks and Marlys Frimml, along with many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Country House Residence, St. Luke’s Hospital, and Suncrest Hospice for their wonderful care and kindness these past few weeks.

Memorials may be donated to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Iowa., Alzheimer's Association .