Mary Ann Kenkel
December 29, 1923 — January 30, 2016
Mary Ann Kenkel was born on December 29, 1923 at the family farm near Tennant, Iowa to William and Sidonia (Book) Buman. She attended Tennant Consolidated School graduating with the Class of 1941. She is a 1946 graduate of Duchesne College in Omaha, Nebraska, and completed an additional summer at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Mary Ann taught school for four years at Dow City High School and Union Consolidated Schools in LeMars, Iowa prior to her marriage to Francis Kenkel. Their wedding took place on August 1, 1950 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa and they made their home on a farm northeast of Defiance.
Six sons were born to this union: James (Jim), Eugene (Gene), Alan, Michael, Patrick, and Kevin. In September of 1983 they moved to a home they built in Defiance, though Francis continued to farm until his retirement in 1990. They enjoyed sixteen winters in Sun City West, Arizona. Since April of 2006 they resided full-time in Defiance.
Mary Ann was a busy farm wife and mother. She processed much food from her large garden, and welcomed many friends, acquaintances, and relatives to her table. Mary Ann made time to be involved in many family, church, and community activities. She helped with 4-H and Boy Scouts (three sons earned Eagle Scout), taught elementary and senior high CCD at St. Peter’s Church for twenty-five years, served on church liturgy and education committees, was a long-time member of Catholic Daughters of America, held several offices in the Des Moines Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) for ten years, and was appointed by the Governor to the Iowa State Judicial Nominating Committee. Mary Ann also was a member of Shelby County Cow Belles. In her “retirement” years she enjoyed mission quilting with other ladies in Defiance. Winters in Arizona provided many volunteer opportunities.
Mary Ann died at her home in Defiance on Saturday, January 30, 2016 having attained the age of ninety-two years, one month, and one day. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law Clarence Kenkel, Glen Juelsgaard, and James Anderson.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-five years Francis Kenkel of Defiance, Iowa, sons Jim Kenkel and his wife Pam of Woodward, Iowa, Gene Kenkel of Defiance, Alan Kenkel and his wife Jo of Defiance, Michael Kenkel and his wife Jean of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Patrick Kenkel and his wife Christina of Prospect, Kentucky, and Kevin Kenkel and his wife Diane of Mitchell, South Dakota; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Alice Bontz of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Ludwig Buman and his wife Alice, Don Buman and his wife Clarice, Ray Buman and his wife Marian all of Harlan, Iowa, and Norene and her husband Dr. Kenneth Pavlik of Verdigre, Nebraska; brothers-in-law: Robert Kenkel and his wife Bernice of Scottsdale, Arizona, Nicholas Kenkel and his wife Mary Ann of Lakeville, Indiana; sisters-in-law: Helen Juelsgaard of Walnut, Iowa, Della Kenkel of Johnston, Iowa, Mildred Anderson of Wauwautosa, Wisconsin, Eileen and her husband Bud Rossi of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Madonna and her husband Clarence Neppl of Salida, Colorado, Mary Pat and her husband Walt Sweetman of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; numerous nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
Six sons were born to this union: James (Jim), Eugene (Gene), Alan, Michael, Patrick, and Kevin. In September of 1983 they moved to a home they built in Defiance, though Francis continued to farm until his retirement in 1990. They enjoyed sixteen winters in Sun City West, Arizona. Since April of 2006 they resided full-time in Defiance.
Mary Ann was a busy farm wife and mother. She processed much food from her large garden, and welcomed many friends, acquaintances, and relatives to her table. Mary Ann made time to be involved in many family, church, and community activities. She helped with 4-H and Boy Scouts (three sons earned Eagle Scout), taught elementary and senior high CCD at St. Peter’s Church for twenty-five years, served on church liturgy and education committees, was a long-time member of Catholic Daughters of America, held several offices in the Des Moines Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) for ten years, and was appointed by the Governor to the Iowa State Judicial Nominating Committee. Mary Ann also was a member of Shelby County Cow Belles. In her “retirement” years she enjoyed mission quilting with other ladies in Defiance. Winters in Arizona provided many volunteer opportunities.
Mary Ann died at her home in Defiance on Saturday, January 30, 2016 having attained the age of ninety-two years, one month, and one day. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law Clarence Kenkel, Glen Juelsgaard, and James Anderson.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-five years Francis Kenkel of Defiance, Iowa, sons Jim Kenkel and his wife Pam of Woodward, Iowa, Gene Kenkel of Defiance, Alan Kenkel and his wife Jo of Defiance, Michael Kenkel and his wife Jean of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Patrick Kenkel and his wife Christina of Prospect, Kentucky, and Kevin Kenkel and his wife Diane of Mitchell, South Dakota; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Alice Bontz of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Ludwig Buman and his wife Alice, Don Buman and his wife Clarice, Ray Buman and his wife Marian all of Harlan, Iowa, and Norene and her husband Dr. Kenneth Pavlik of Verdigre, Nebraska; brothers-in-law: Robert Kenkel and his wife Bernice of Scottsdale, Arizona, Nicholas Kenkel and his wife Mary Ann of Lakeville, Indiana; sisters-in-law: Helen Juelsgaard of Walnut, Iowa, Della Kenkel of Johnston, Iowa, Mildred Anderson of Wauwautosa, Wisconsin, Eileen and her husband Bud Rossi of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Madonna and her husband Clarence Neppl of Salida, Colorado, Mary Pat and her husband Walt Sweetman of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; numerous nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
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