Loretta Katherine Kenkel
November 8, 1935 — November 2, 2024
Loretta Katherine Kenkel, daughter of Francis Louis and Ann (McCaffrey) Henkelman, was born on November 8, 1935, in Defiance, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. Growing up her family was in the beekeeping business, which brought a lot of knowledge about bees and honey. She was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church, attended and graduated from St. Paul's Catholic School in Defiance.
Loretta met Joe at a dance, they were married 68 years ago on Easter Monday. Throughout the years they enjoyed dancing and polka, including watching Laurence Welk together on Saturday evenings. On April 2, 1956, Loretta was united in marriage to Joseph Ray Kenkel at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. Seven children were born to this union. While her children were young, Loretta stayed at home to care for her family. She was a wonderful baker and would make donuts, cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, and pies. Her specialties were apple pies and Joe's favorite pineapple upside-down cake. She enjoyed quilting, crafts, and working in her garden. She taught each of her daughters to sew.
After working for several years at the Little Flower Haven in Earling, Loretta went to work at CDS for 13 years, retiring in 2001. She lived her entire life in Defiance or Earling, except for the time she joined Joe near Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Loretta passed away at her home in Earling on Saturday, November 2, 2024, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-five days. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Jane Tacderan, son-in-law Kevin White, daughter-in-law Kristi Kenkel, siblings, Frank and Mary Jane Henkelman, Ray and Helen Henkelman, Harry and Pat Henkelman, Ardith and Bob Schaben, Mary Ellen and LaVern Schmitz, Dorothy Kenkel and brother-in-law Jay Menze.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years Joe Ray Kenkel of Earling, Iowa; children, Kathy White of Omaha, Nebraska; Karen (Dean) Kenkel-Fife of Omaha, Nebraska; Mary (Tim) Bottoms of Burchard, Nebraska; Carl (Kellie) Kenkel of Arlington, Nebraska; Terry Kenkel of Glidden, Iowa; Tim (Donita) Kenkel of Dunlap, Iowa; son-in-law Pat Tacderan of Maui, Hawaii; 13 grandchildren, Brandon, Mica, Tyler, Amanda, Michael, Derek, Alyssa, Ben, Elizabeth, Grant, Kanani, Connor, and Justin; sister, Agnes Menze of El Dorado, Kansas; brother-in-law Max Kenkel of Earling, Iowa; Inlaws Bonnie and George Kenkel of Harlan, Iowa nieces and nephews, many other family members and friends.
Loretta met Joe at a dance, they were married 68 years ago on Easter Monday. Throughout the years they enjoyed dancing and polka, including watching Laurence Welk together on Saturday evenings. On April 2, 1956, Loretta was united in marriage to Joseph Ray Kenkel at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. Seven children were born to this union. While her children were young, Loretta stayed at home to care for her family. She was a wonderful baker and would make donuts, cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, and pies. Her specialties were apple pies and Joe's favorite pineapple upside-down cake. She enjoyed quilting, crafts, and working in her garden. She taught each of her daughters to sew.
After working for several years at the Little Flower Haven in Earling, Loretta went to work at CDS for 13 years, retiring in 2001. She lived her entire life in Defiance or Earling, except for the time she joined Joe near Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Loretta passed away at her home in Earling on Saturday, November 2, 2024, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-five days. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Jane Tacderan, son-in-law Kevin White, daughter-in-law Kristi Kenkel, siblings, Frank and Mary Jane Henkelman, Ray and Helen Henkelman, Harry and Pat Henkelman, Ardith and Bob Schaben, Mary Ellen and LaVern Schmitz, Dorothy Kenkel and brother-in-law Jay Menze.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years Joe Ray Kenkel of Earling, Iowa; children, Kathy White of Omaha, Nebraska; Karen (Dean) Kenkel-Fife of Omaha, Nebraska; Mary (Tim) Bottoms of Burchard, Nebraska; Carl (Kellie) Kenkel of Arlington, Nebraska; Terry Kenkel of Glidden, Iowa; Tim (Donita) Kenkel of Dunlap, Iowa; son-in-law Pat Tacderan of Maui, Hawaii; 13 grandchildren, Brandon, Mica, Tyler, Amanda, Michael, Derek, Alyssa, Ben, Elizabeth, Grant, Kanani, Connor, and Justin; sister, Agnes Menze of El Dorado, Kansas; brother-in-law Max Kenkel of Earling, Iowa; Inlaws Bonnie and George Kenkel of Harlan, Iowa nieces and nephews, many other family members and friends.
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