Lucille Woodring Obituary

Lucille Woodring

October 20, 1937 - June 14, 2025

Lucille Amelia Woodring, 87, passed away on June 14, 2025, in Escondido, Calif.

Born on October 20, 1937, Lucille Poehler was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church near Shelton, Neb., where she was later confirmed in 1951. She graduated as valedictorian of Shelton High School in 1955 and continued her studies at Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney.

Lucille built a strong and steady career beginning as a bookkeeper, the co-owner of a lumber yard and home construction company, and later working in the fabric and notions department at J.M. McDonald's in Holdrege, Neb. She found her professional home at Becton Dickinson in Holdrege, where she worked diligently for 28 years before retiring in 1998 and relocating to Escondido.

A devoted mother and resourceful provider, Lucille raised her family with determination and grace. She is survived by her daughters, Valerie Woodring of Anchorage, Ala., and Alisa Woodring and her partner Steven Hunte of Castro Valley, Calif.; her grandson, Benjamin Woodring and grandchildren, Marlie, Aarsyn, and Aryonna of Anchorage; brother, Gerald Poehler and his wife, Patricia of Shelton; seven nieces and nephews; sixteen great-nieces and nephews; thirteen great-grandnieces and nephews; and two granddogs, Moose of Anchorage and Archie of Castro Valley. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Candace Annette in infancy; her parents, Freda (Ahrens) and Henry Poehler; Gary Woodring, father of Candace, Valerie and Alisa; and her sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Randy Kruse.

Lucille's creativity shone through in her many crafts, ceramics, candles, holiday decorations and she was a talented seamstress who lovingly made ballet costumes, confirmation and holiday dresses for her daughters. An adventurous traveler, she visited an astounding 47 countries over the course of her life.

While she lived in California the final 27 years of her life, Lucille remained a proud Nebraskan. She was a lifelong Husker fan and stayed involved in the Poehler family farms.

She was a faithful member of several Missouri Synod Lutheran congregations over the years: Zion Lutheran Church near Shelton; Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege; and most recently Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Escondido.

A celebration of Lucille's life will be held at 10 a.m. on August 2 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Escondido, Calif.

Her legacy as a hardworking, intelligent, and independent woman and a loving mother continues to inspire all who knew her.