Kennel, Lester Norman (1920-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Aug 9 p. 12

Birth date: 1920 Jan 6

text of obituary:

LESTER N. KENNEL

Lester Norman Kennel, 84, died July 11, 2004, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, Neb., where he had been a resident since March. He was born Jan. 6, 1920, to Peter and Anna Reeb Kennel in Fillmore County near Shickley.

His formal education included eight years at Bluffs School near Strang and a short term at Hesston (Kan.) College.

He accepted Christ in his youth and was baptized into Salem Mennonite Church of Shickley, where he remained a faithful member until his death. He was deeply committed to the Lord and made it a priority to pass on the Christian faith.

He had great concern for the spiritual well-being of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He served in a number of lay leadership ministries at Salem Mennonite Church, including Sunday school teacher, chorister, sexton, trustee and elder.

He also served on several committees in the former Iowa-Nebraska Mennonite Conference and as school board president of Shickley Public School.

On Jan. 8, 1941, he married Lola Stauffer of Milford. They lived their entire married life in the Strang community.

They were engaged in farming and livestock production until he retired in 1982.

He then worked as a woodcrafter, making numerous items such as quilt racks, shelves and, most notably, walking canes.

He found great enjoyment spending time with family. They enjoyed many trips visiting family, two memorable trips to the Holy Land, and a tour of Anabaptist sites in Europe.

Survivors include his wife, Lola; three children, Ron and his wife, Judy, of Goshen, Ind., Cecil and his wife, Sharon, of Strang, and Debra Jaberg and her husband, Mike, of Strang; five grandchildren; fourgreat-grandchildren; and three brothers, Mahlon of Shickley, Willard of Salem, Ore., and Leroy of Schaumburg, Ill.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Harry; and a sister, Fern Springer.