A Mass of Christian Burial for 87-year-old Norman Vincent Kenkel of Harlan will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 17, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling; Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
Norman Kenkel (1936 – 2023) Norman Vincent Kenkel was born June 25, 1936, in Earling, Iowa, to Hubert and Emma (Katzer) Kenkel, joining older sisters Margie and Ollie and later becoming an older brother to Melvin.
The family lived and farmed five miles east of Earling. Norman graduated in 1954 from Saint Joseph’s Catholic School, Earling, served in the US Army in Korea, and returned home and married his lifelong sweetheart Joyce Jacobsen on February 17, 1958. Norman and Joyce set up residence on a farm near his childhood home. He and his father worked together to tend to both farms. As a farmer, Norman was an early adopter of land conservation practices. Within a few years, he focused on producing hogs, soybeans, and corn. He was truly a life-long farmer, retiring in 2008, yet continued to assist and advise his oldest son Kevin as the next farmer in this multi-generational Iowa farm family, including into the 2023 harvest season.
Norm and Joyce’s car had NOJOY vanity plates for many years, but their long life together was joyless. Kevin was born nine months after their honeymoon, followed by twins Craig and Cindy, Karen, Phil, Doug, twins Lyle and Lynn, Jill and Troy. As the family grew, so did the old farmhouse, which continued to be Norm and Joyce’s home long after their children ventured out independently.
When not farming, Norm enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Whether that be traveling to visit the Colorado cousins, having cookouts and pitching horseshoes with the neighboring Dick and Zita Bruck family, playing cards, hosting holiday get-togethers and family reunions, attending church picnics, dropping coins in slot machines, or taking a Sunday afternoon drive through the countryside, he loved to socialize.
Surviving Norm is his wife Joyce; children Kevin (Colleen), Craig, Cindy Gerdts, Karen (CJ) Hildreth, Phil (Cindy), Doug (Dina), Lyle (Kay), Lynn, Jill (Mark) Campbell, and Troy (Heather); 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Instead of flowers, Norm’s family asks you to consider donating to the American Lung Association.
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