Dena Marie (Kalkofen) Fey
June 10, 1934 – February 21, 2023
Dena was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on June 10, 1934, to Edward and Dena (Loberg) Kalkofen. Her mother died during childbirth, and she was then raised by an aunt, Lizzie Loberg, in Wayne. She attended Wayne schools and graduated in 1952. She worked in the Ben Franklin store and then became a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Wayne.
On July 7, 1954, she married Donald Fey in Emerson, Nebraska. Don and Dena had one daughter Deanna and one son Mark.
In 1956, Dena and Don operated the Concord NE manual telephone exchange. They ran the manual switchboard located in their home while Don helped convert the Concord and Dixon areas to dial operation. In 1959 Don was employed by Northwestern Bell, and the family lived in South Sioux City, Norfolk, Grand Island. In 1971, they moved to Omaha.
Dena was a stay-at-home mom. She later worked for District 66 school district in the food service department at Valley View junior school. After Don’s retirement in 1986 and he became self-employed in a family-operated FAA repair station, she then became the bookkeeper for the business. Don and Dena retired from the business in 2005. They enjoyed retirement with cruises to Alaska, Panama Canal, and Hawaii. She enjoyed her hobbies of cross-stitching and working on jigsaw puzzles. For a number of years, they were active in the Midwest Antique Auto Club and enjoyed their travels to the many car tours they participated in.
She is survived by her husband, Donald, son Mark(Leslie); grandchildren: Lisa (Adam) Eisenmenger, Christopher Fey and Lindsey (Jake) Pollard, Natalia Meier; great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Adeline and Charlie Eisenminger, Baylie, Mallorie, and Camille Pollard, son-in-law Douglas Meier all of Omaha, six nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Deanna, in 2010; parents, Guardian Lizzie Loberg; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Edward and Norma Fey, Alfred and Marlene Fey, Elizabeth and Herman Jager; and one niece.
Visitation: Sunday, February 26, 5:00-7:00PM, followed by Vigil Service, 7:00PM. Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, February 27th, 11AM at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, 3405 S. 118th Street.
Interment: Omaha National Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mary Our Queen, the American Heart Association, or Tabitha Hospice.
2 Comments
I knew Dena as Marie. I met her in August of 1974 when we moved into our house directly across the street from the Fey’s house. We have been close friends ever since. I loved Marie like a sister. We shared all our ups and downs. My prayers for peace and comfort go out to the whole family. With love, Vivian
We have known the Fey family since they moved to the Dolls Rockbrook area in 1971. We not only knew them as neighbors, but we also knew them through the Westside Community School District and Mary Our Queen Church. I am so grateful that I came to know such a wonderful family. My prayers are with you as you mourn the loss of such a lovely lady. God bless all of you.
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