Kathy L. (Fenchel) McNeal 1959-2014

MCNEAL, FENCHEL, WEDEMEYER, SLADEK, HAKEMAN, SORENSON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/31/2019 at 10:06:32

Decorah Newspapers (IA) - Thursday, November 13, 2014

Kathy L. McNeal, 54, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, November 6, 2014, at her home. Her life ended after a battle with recurrent breast cancer. Kathy Lynn was born December 12, 1959 in Story City, Iowa. She was the fourth of six children to be born to George and Phyllis (Wedemeyer) Fenchel. Kathy graduated from Starmont High School in 1977. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse through St. Luke's in Cedar Rapids and a Registered Nurse through NICC. She was also a certified Diabetic Educator. Kathy was a nurse with Gunderson Clinic for twenty years and she worked with Dr. Ignatius Green for eighteen years.

Kathy was united in marriage with Dennis McNeal on November 3, 1979 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point and they were blessed with two daughters, Abby and Makenzie.

Kathy was a member of the Ossian Lutheran Church. Her greatest joy in life was her husband, motherhood, daughters and grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending time gardening. Kathy frequently volunteered her time at the church and has made over two hundred and fifty pillow case dresses for missions.

Kathy is survived by her husband of thirty-five years, Dennis, of Decorah; her two daughters, Abby (Dan) Sladek of Lake in the Hills, IL; and Makenzie (Brady) Hakeman of Waterloo, IA; three grandchildren, Caden and Finley Sladek and Jade Hakeman; her mother, Phyllis Fenchel of Manly, IA; two sisters, Sue (Eldon) Fenton of Strawberry Point; and Julie (Doug) Sorenson of Manly, IA; and one brother, Mark (Dar) Fenchel of Hull, IA.

Kathy was preceded in death by her father, George Fenchel; two brothers, Kurt and Tim Fenchel; and a niece, Faith Fenchel.

To reflect her love of the elderly and children, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Ossian Senior Hospice, the Ossian Lutheran Church JAM Program, or to the Ossian DeSales Childcare Center.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa. Rev. Dave Lenth will be the officiant.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 14, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa and one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Inurnment to be held in the Hansel Cemetery, Garber, Iowa at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Ossian Senior Hospice, the Ossian Lutheran Church JAM Program, or to the Ossian DeSales Childcare Center.

Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Ossian, Iowa, is helping the family with the arrangements.