Della Kenkel

Della, age 96, of Johnston, Iowa, passed away September 3, 2025.  Funeral mass will be at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, IA, on Saturday, September 6, at 11:00.  Interment follows at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Defiance.Della was born to Magdalena (Schneider) and Quirin Goeser on a farm near Westphalia, in Shelby county in 1929, the eighth of ten children. She attended Dow City schools, graduating in 1948.  She earned her Associates Degree from Iowa State Teachers College, and taught in a rural school, then in Arion and Manilla, IA.  Della married Clarence (Joe) Kenkel in 1955 and they lived and farmed just north of Defiance, IA.  They raised seven children, were active in St. Peter’s Parish, and Defiance-Westphalia and Harlan schools.  Della was a life-long volunteer. She became active with the St. Mary’s of Nazareth Parish when she and Joe moved to Johnston, as well as volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul. Della will be remembered for her kindness, generosity of spirit, and willingness to give of herself to others. Della is survived by her children:  Mary (Rick) Flatt of Des Moines; Kate (Mark) Kriynovich of Columbus, OH; Andrew (Jamie) Kenkel of Reynoldsburg, OH; Jeanne (Hassan) Tajvar of Kent, WA; Jane (Werner) Horst of LaGrangeville, NY; Phil (Heidi) Kenkel of Cedar Falls, IA; Peg (David) Thomsen of Iowa City, IA. Her grandchildren are Katie (Justin) Strodtman, Megan (Serge) Osaulenko; R. and Leila Tajvar; Gabriella, Andrew, and Sophia Thomsen; Joseph, Benjamin, and William Kenkel.  Great grandchildren are Josh and Alex Strodtman; Hunter and Aurora Osaulenko.  Della was preceded in death by her siblings, Silvan (Sara) Goeser; Vivian (Walter) Petersen; Dorothy (John) Bray; Severin (Rose) Goeser; Corinne (Carl) Vils; Roman Goeser; Irma Goeser; Joseph Goeser; Eugene (Gloria) Goeser.