Joyce Ann Kenkel
June 20, 1945 — March 2, 2024
Joyce Ann Kenkel
Joyce Ann Kenkel, daughter of Odelia (Gaul) and Lavern Foxhoven, was born June 20, 1945 in Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church. She made her first communion at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa and was confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Her family moved 10 times in 10 years before settling in Earling, Iowa. She graduated high school in 1963 and attended college at State College of Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa for 1 year pursuing a degree in teaching before moving back to the area to work.
On November 28, 1964, Joyce was united in marriage to David Kenkel at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling. They lived in Earling, then moved to Westphalia and eventually made a permanent home in Panama, Iowa. They were blessed with 6 children: Allen, Toni, Curtis, Richard, Scott and Tina.
She worked in the Earling and Panama banks for several years and then went to work for Cogdill Farm Supply. She worked at Cogdill's for 26 years; retiring in 2008. She loved making quilts, counted cross-stitch, and painting ceramics. As a traditional farm wife, she gardened and canned many vegetable and fruits, raised laying hens and delivered eggs, raised and butchered broiler chickens. Dave and Joyce designed and built a new house in 1978. They moved to town in 2015.
Joyce was very active in the church and community. She participated with Panama Community Chorus, served as the president of the Sewing Circle, directed and taught in the CYO/CCD program and volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Mobile. At St. Mary's Catholic Church, she served on the Parish Council, School Board, Liturgy Committee as well as a Eucharistic Minister, sang and played guitar at church. She designed and quilted countless quilts for the Micah House in Council Bluffs, a homeless and emergency shelter servicing families and women. Her generosity had no bounds. She welcomed everyone into her life and struck up a conversation with anyone. She was a caregiver, confidant and friend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter Toni Marie, brothers Ken and Gail Foxhoven, brother-in-law Michael Kenkel, sisters-in-law Lauretta and Patricia Kenkel and niece MaryBeth (Kenkel) Pileggi.
She is survived by husband David of Panama; children: Allen (Tracey) of Panama; Curtis (Natalie) of Olathe, KS; Richard (Anita) of Joplin, MO; Scott of Panama; and Tina (Peter) Laskie of LeMars, IA; 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren,sisters Lyn Schneider and June Foxhoven of Millard, NE; sister-in-law Betty Foxhoven of Earling, IA, nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.
Joyce Ann Kenkel, daughter of Odelia (Gaul) and Lavern Foxhoven, was born June 20, 1945 in Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church. She made her first communion at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa and was confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Her family moved 10 times in 10 years before settling in Earling, Iowa. She graduated high school in 1963 and attended college at State College of Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa for 1 year pursuing a degree in teaching before moving back to the area to work.
On November 28, 1964, Joyce was united in marriage to David Kenkel at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling. They lived in Earling, then moved to Westphalia and eventually made a permanent home in Panama, Iowa. They were blessed with 6 children: Allen, Toni, Curtis, Richard, Scott and Tina.
She worked in the Earling and Panama banks for several years and then went to work for Cogdill Farm Supply. She worked at Cogdill's for 26 years; retiring in 2008. She loved making quilts, counted cross-stitch, and painting ceramics. As a traditional farm wife, she gardened and canned many vegetable and fruits, raised laying hens and delivered eggs, raised and butchered broiler chickens. Dave and Joyce designed and built a new house in 1978. They moved to town in 2015.
Joyce was very active in the church and community. She participated with Panama Community Chorus, served as the president of the Sewing Circle, directed and taught in the CYO/CCD program and volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Mobile. At St. Mary's Catholic Church, she served on the Parish Council, School Board, Liturgy Committee as well as a Eucharistic Minister, sang and played guitar at church. She designed and quilted countless quilts for the Micah House in Council Bluffs, a homeless and emergency shelter servicing families and women. Her generosity had no bounds. She welcomed everyone into her life and struck up a conversation with anyone. She was a caregiver, confidant and friend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter Toni Marie, brothers Ken and Gail Foxhoven, brother-in-law Michael Kenkel, sisters-in-law Lauretta and Patricia Kenkel and niece MaryBeth (Kenkel) Pileggi.
She is survived by husband David of Panama; children: Allen (Tracey) of Panama; Curtis (Natalie) of Olathe, KS; Richard (Anita) of Joplin, MO; Scott of Panama; and Tina (Peter) Laskie of LeMars, IA; 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren,sisters Lyn Schneider and June Foxhoven of Millard, NE; sister-in-law Betty Foxhoven of Earling, IA, nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.
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