Caryl "Jeanene" Drennan

Caryl “Jeanene” Drennan of Omaha, passed away peacefully on March 31st 2023 at the age of 90 years young. She was born on July 17th 1932 to P. Brooks and Freda Margaret Thomas in Talmage NE. Jeanene was the middle child of 8 brothers and sisters, and was named after the song: “Jeannine I Dream of Lilacs Time” by Gene Austin. She was baptized and confirmed at the 1st Christian Church in Nebraska City, and graduated from Nebraska City High School in 1950. She was a lead cheerleader, and the Homecoming Queen in 1949. After graduation, Don & Jeanne were married in Colorado Springs CO. in 1951, where they lived until 1970, when the family moved to Omaha.

 In CO Jeanne worked for “Alexander Film Co” where she helped to make commercials for movie theatres. She then worked for “The Colorado Telephone Co” starting in 1952 as a Call Analyst. In 1961 she followed her dream to stay home with her daughter Debbie. and soon to be daughter Leslie. Jeanene lived her life to the fullest, and was a very active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, was a Charter member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a member of the Lunch Bunch group from her high school that awarded an annual scholarship, and a Room Mom at school for many years. 

She was a loving, caring, kind, and a devoted wife, mom, grandma, and great grandma and most of all our best friend. She loved the Lord, and would give the most beautiful and heartwarming prayers during our dinners. She loved to be with her family, friends, and neighbors. Jeanene also loved to travel, was a wonderful cook, seamstress, had a great sense of humor and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. She loved birds, especially the Cardinal, and she could identify many birds by their songs. She was an avid HUSKER Football fan, and for the games she and Don would wear matching NE sweatshirts. Her biggest triumph was beating Bladder Cancer! Her true blessing came when her grandson Brian was born in 1989. He was the light of her life, and she and dad were his daily caregivers starting at 6 weeks old. You would find Jeanene and Don at all of Brian’s sporting games, & they would root the loudest! She had been staying with Leslie for the last 1.5 years and enjoying Brody the Sheltie. Brian's last conversation with his G-Ma, as he called her, was when he, Alayna, and Macy (her newest love) facetimed her to tell her the exciting news, that there was going to be a new baby born in late August, and that she was going to be a Great G-Ma for the 2nd time! She was so overjoyed at this happy news! Thank you, Mom, for gracing us with your love, beautiful smile, compassion and for your wonderful humor!

Jeanene leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters; Debbie (Steve) Schrader, Leslie Laramy; grandson, Brian (Alayna) Schrader and great-granddaughter, Macy Schrader. Many nieces, nephews, wonderful friends, and neighbors. Preceded in death by her loving husband Donald L. Drennan; parents, Paul “Brooks” Thomas, and Freda Margaret (Kreimer) Thomas; sisters, Donna Tharp; Sharon Sellers; Jane Thomas; brothers, Paul Thomas; Mark Thomas, LaMoyne Thomas; Rodney Thomas and Roger Thomas. The family of Jeanene would like to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers, also for your loving and caring kindness and support during this very sad time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Arthritis Foundation, The American Cancer Society, The Nebraska Humane Society or to an animal shelter of your choice.