Kendall C. Day 1917-2005

DAY, SMITH, PREGLER, JOHNSON, BRESON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/23/2016 at 23:26:28

Kendall C. Day, 87, of 1360 Kaufmann Ave., passed away the morning of Saturday, April 16, 2005, in a peaceful sleep as he went to join the wife he loved.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1700 Lincoln Ave., with the Rev. Mark Nemmers officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 7 p.m.

Clarence Kendall Day was born on Aug. 11, 1917, in East Dubuque, Ill., son of Clarence J. and Florence A. (Smith) Day.

Kendall lived in many homes during his childhood, but his favorite was in Rockdale, Iowa, where he reveled in the country life with his relatives, horses and 27 dogs.

He attended Franklin School and graduated from St. Mary's Catholic School in Dubuque.

He worked for Swift & Co. and paved streets with the WPA during the Great Depression. He was a floral designer at Haltenhoff Florist for more than 40 years, and later worked at Hopper's Greenhouse.

He served honorably in the Service Company of the Army's 362nd Infantry Regiment from 1942 to 1944.

Kendall's faith, along with his rosary and well-worn St. Jude prayer card, got him through life's challenges, including the loss of his father at a young age.

He married Marie K. Pregler on June 30, 1956, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

He didn't come from wealth and never earned much money, but he was rich in blessings. A beautiful wife and eight children provided the joy in his life.

Kendall's life was dedicated to his family. He had a way of making each of his children feel special. He made great sacrifices to buy them such treasured gifts as a ball glove, fishing pole or a guitar. He attended their piano recitals and softball games, displayed their artwork, and saved their school projects and newspaper clippings. He was a shy and humble man, but he was proud of his children. In the end, they were proud of him. He was a devoted husband, great father, a gentleman and wonderful role model.

He loved his grandchildren, and enjoyed euchre, crossword puzzles, chocolate, watching westerns and Andy Griffith, and was a frustrated but dedicated Cubs fan. He shared his favorite hobby of collecting political buttons with his family, and liked traveling to antique shops and flea markets in search of a "rare and scarce" find.

He is survived by his eight children, Rita (Clint) Johnson, Judy Day (friend, Dave Atchison), Kathy Day, Mike (Cindy) Day, Steve (Rhonda) Day, Pat (Keyna) Day, Dan (Nicki) Day and Dennis (Cristin) Day, all of Dubuque; 11 grandchildren, Chris and Traci Johnson, Grant and Brian Day, Jackie and Sam Day, Conner and Collin Day, Gabriel Day and Madelyn and Ethan Day; and a cousin, Carl Breson, of Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, on Tuesday.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Monday, April 18, 2005