Arlene Kenkel

Following a three year battle with cancer, Arlene Kenkel passed away April 7, 2007 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center having attained the age of 76 years. Arlene devoted her life to her family, her work and her church.

Betty Arlene (Brookhouser) Kenkel was born January 19, 1931 to Charles T. and Violet Leone (Collins) Brookhouser. Arlene lived all her life in the Woodbine area and was baptized in the Christian Church in Woodbine, Iowa in 1943. She attended country school and graduated as valedictorian from Woodbine High School in 1949. She attended Wayne State Teachers College and graduated from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. She taught school for nearly 40 years beginning in the rural schools in Persia, Iowa and in the Woodbine Elementary School from 1954 until her retirement in 1994. She taught fourth and sixth grades and especially enjoyed teaching Iowa History.

She married Donald Charles "Red" Kenkel on August 3, 1957 at the Sacred Heart Church in Woodbine, Iowa. To this union two children were born Donnell (Kenkel) Heistand and Nathan Kenkel.

Throughout her life Arlene was an active member of the First Christian Church teaching Sunday school, being the church librarian, serving as an elder and chairman of the board and as a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was also a representative of the Woodbine Ministerial Association. Arlene was a member of P.E.O., Daughters of the American Revolution, Woodbine Carnegie Library Board of Trustees and the Harrison County Preservation Commission.

Arlene is survived by her husband, Donald; daughter, Donnell and husband Mark Heistand; son, Nathan and wife Michelle; and five grandchildren, Madeline, Adrian and Jarred Heistand and Ethan and Emma Kenkel. She is also survived by her sisters, Lavonne Stenzel and Shirley Doberenz; brothers and sisters-in-law Bernie Kenkel, Ed and Lee Ann Kenkel, Leo Kenkel, Marge and Mike Calder, Mary Ann Kenkel; and many nieces and nephews.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Leone Brookhouser; and granddaughter, Anna Marie Kenkel.