Memorial services for Hannalesa Aggen Roney, 89, Lawrence, were held Saturday Aug. 20, 2011 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, with the Rev. Dr. Peter A. Luckey officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Mrs. Roney died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, after a brief stay at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was a resident of The Arbor at Brandon Woods at Alvamar, where she had lived since July, 2009.
She was born June 6, 1922, in Norderney, Germany, the youngest daughter of Julius and Johanna Aggen. The Aggen family emigrated to the United States in 1925, and settled in Liberty, Mo. where she attended grade school and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School.
Mrs. Roney moved to Concordia, Kan. in 1966 where she and her husband operated the Cloud 9 Drive-In, the Sigma I and the Brown Grand movie theaters. She was instrumental in securing recognition of the Brown Grand Theater on the National Historic Register, and was a founding member of the Board of Directors that oversaw the renovation of the opera house. In 1971, she opened her own antique store, the General Store, and operated it for the next 25 years.
Mrs. Roney enjoyed reading, music, and antiquing. She had a deep and abiding faith, lived a long and interesting life, had a very kind heart, was loved deeply by many, and will be sadly missed by all whose lives she touched.
She married Jack L. Roney on June 10, 1943. Together they shared 66 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on July 11, 2009. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Erich and Julius.
Survivors include two daughters and their families, Laurie Roney Blaha and husband Paul and children Sam, Seth, and Silas, Benton, Kan., and Marlesa Roney and Vern Hillsman, Lawrence; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time on Saturday.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Brown Grand Theater or the Concordia Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home, 601 Ind., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
