Martin J. Kenkel
January 17, 1937 — May 2, 2009
Martin "Pep" Joseph Kenkel, son of Emil and Carmen (Scheuring) Kenkel, was born on January 17, 1937, in Earling, Iowa and was raised on a farm near Defiance. Martin attended country school near Defiance and St. Paul�s Catholic School in Defiance. He remained on the family farm until his dad passed away in a tractor accident. Martin moved to Glenwood for a short time before becoming a resident at the County Care Center outside of Harlan on February 23, 1965.
Pep loved the farm and John Deere tractors and also loved living at the County Care Center. He collected John Deere memorabilia, coffee cups, keys and key chains, tools and balls He could often be found on the walking trail when the weather permitted and had various responsibilities and duties to fulfill at the center.
Pep died on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of seventy-two years, three months, and fifteen days. He is preceded in death by his parents Emil and Carmen Kenkel; his sister Yvonne; and his grandniece Elise.
He is survived by his sisters Phyllis and her husband Delmar Mikels of Portsmouth, Iowa and Mary Claussen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his brothers Russell Kenkel and his wife Tresa of Marietta, Georgia and John Kenkel and his wife Lois of Lincoln, Nebraska; nieces; nephews; other family members; and his special friends and the County Care Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at St. Peter�s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa, with Rev. Tom Coenen celebrating and Rev. Bob Hoefler concelebrating the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa, with Randy Clyde, Richard Scheuring, Dean Mikels, Kurt Claussen, Kevin Claussen, and Jim Sheuring serving as casket bearers.
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Pep loved the farm and John Deere tractors and also loved living at the County Care Center. He collected John Deere memorabilia, coffee cups, keys and key chains, tools and balls He could often be found on the walking trail when the weather permitted and had various responsibilities and duties to fulfill at the center.
Pep died on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of seventy-two years, three months, and fifteen days. He is preceded in death by his parents Emil and Carmen Kenkel; his sister Yvonne; and his grandniece Elise.
He is survived by his sisters Phyllis and her husband Delmar Mikels of Portsmouth, Iowa and Mary Claussen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his brothers Russell Kenkel and his wife Tresa of Marietta, Georgia and John Kenkel and his wife Lois of Lincoln, Nebraska; nieces; nephews; other family members; and his special friends and the County Care Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at St. Peter�s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa, with Rev. Tom Coenen celebrating and Rev. Bob Hoefler concelebrating the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa, with Randy Clyde, Richard Scheuring, Dean Mikels, Kurt Claussen, Kevin Claussen, and Jim Sheuring serving as casket bearers.
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