Edna "Darb" Caroline Hooge Wegener

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”    Philippians 4:8

Edna “Darb” Caroline Hooge Wegener

Edna, or Darb as she was known by her sisters and their families, was a loving and faithful wife and mother.  She was called home to Jesus on Sept. 24, 2023.  

Edna was born in her family home in Clinton, Louisiana on December 27, 1937, to Emile and Minnie Hooge.  She was the youngest of four girls in a close-knit family who ran both a farm and a small grocery store during times of great challenge and change in our world.  Edna and her sisters were taught to find hope in the love and promise of Jesus by their parents and extended family.  She was baptized into the Christian faith in infancy and was confirmed in her commitment to Jesus Christ at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton, Louisiana.  Throughout her life, she continually nourished her faith through Holy Communion and the Word of God and strove to proclaim the love of Jesus in both word and deed. Her unwavering faith is an example to others which will transcend her earthly time.

Edna discovered a love of math and chemistry at Clinton High School, which she attended from 1st through 12th grades.  She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with concentrations in math and science from Louisiana State University in 1959.  She moved to Lake Charles the day after graduation to begin her teaching career.  Over the next several years, Edna taught math and science at LaGrange Junior High, Oak Park Junior High, and Lake Charles High School before taking time away from her career to be a full-time mother to her children in the late 60’s and early 70’s.  She resumed her studies and earned her Master of Science degree in Mathematics from McNeese State University, after which she returned to classroom teaching at Barbe High School until her retirement.  Edna enjoyed her years in the classroom sharing her love of math and science with hundreds of students in the Lake Charles community.

What she loved most in this world, however, was her husband and children.  Edna met her loving husband Albert at St. John Lutheran Church within weeks of arriving in Lake Charles.  Al and Edna thrived in marriage for 60  years as they reared their children and served their family, church, and community.  Over the years, Edna and Al traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond.  They fished for weeks at Sam Rayburn, walked in Luther’s footsteps in Germany, were sprayed by the Maid of the Mist, stood at the summit of Mt. Washington, chilled out in Coulter Bay, basked in the sun at the Adriatic coast, cruised along Alaska, chipped at the Berlin Wall, sat where Paul preached in Turkey, marveled at Old Faithful, wept at Auschwitz, prayed in East Berlin, camped in Colorado, and had countless other adventures together.  In the last 19 years, she cherished every second she could spend with her beloved grandchildren, Hunter and Ashton Jacques, who brought joy to her life that she didn’t know could be experienced this side of heaven.

Edna also enjoyed spending time with her family at the homestead in Clinton, listening to hymns, gardening, learning through reading, attending community concerts, sewing, and  crushing on Willie Nelson.  Through church, Edna was active in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, St. John’s Ladies Aid, quilting and Braille missions, a long list of clubs and committees, and, throughout the 60’s, helping run summer church camp at Chico State Park.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and aunt.  Edna achieved her life’s goal of making sure that her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews know that she loves them beyond measure, but Jesus loves them more.   

She will be loved in memory by her son Mark of Lake Charles; daughter Mary Ann and her husband Sean of Lake Charles as well as their children Hunter and Ashton; stepson Gregory Wegener and wife Cynthia of Mobile; her sister Ruby Riviere of Friendswood, TX and children Renee, Randall, Rodney, and Robyn; her sister Theresa Brooks of Baton Rouge and daughter Melanie; her sister Alean Hunnewell of Lebanon, NH and her husband Charlie and children Calvin, Andy, Bill, Mary, Paul, and Susan; and all of her Wegener family and church family.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Albert; her parents; her step-grandson Greg Wegener; her nieces Kathy Bates, Johnny Rhea Bennett, and Briana Mayes; and her nephew Chuck Hunnewell.  

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Friday September 29, 2023 at St. John Lutheran Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Reverend Charles Miller will officiate.  Interment services will follow at Highland Memory Gardens.  Visitation Friday will be from 9:00 AM until the time of service in the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 600 University Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70605 or Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 11007 Plank Rd, Clinton, LA 70722.