Kenagy, Dwight C. 1932-2016

KENAGY, MARTIN, JOHNSON, CAYLOR, JONES, NELSON, KEITH, THIELE, THIPHASOUK, THOMAS, JACKSON, DEGNER, LARIMER, PATTERSON, CARLSON, BLUML, HULL, FERGUSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/27/2016 at 02:38:55

Dwight C. Kenagy
January 15, 1932 - May 26, 2016
Dwight C Kenagy, 84, formerly of Sioux City, IA passed away Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Banner Medical Center in Mesa, AZ after a brief illness.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 30th, at 11:00 a.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Visitation with the family will be at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Tom VandeBerg officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the 185th Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard at Logan Park Cemetery.

Dwight was born Jan. 15, 1932 in Clarinda, IA to Robert Keith Kenagy and Velma (Martin) Kenagy at home. The family moved to Elmo, MO to the family farm before he turned 1 year old. He graduated from high school in Clearmont, MO.

June 18, 1951, Dwight married Gloria June Johnson in Clarinda, IA. They had 3 children, Joleene, Gene and David. Gloria passed away December 3, 2009. Dwight married Colleen Caylor Jones, Feb. 11, 2011 in Apache Junction and moved to Altoona.

Dwight joined the Air Force in 1952 and served 4 years in Mountain Home, ID and Wichita Falls, TX. Upon discharge, Dwight and Gloria moved to Omaha, NE where he briefly worked for a lumber company. In 1956, Dwight joined the 185th Iowa Air National Guard and moved to Sioux City where he made his career as an aircraft electrician journeyman. He was activated with the 185th in 1968-1969 and served in Phu Cat Vietnam, where he and others from the 185th were instrumental in building an orphanage for the local village. In 1984, he retired as a Senior Master Sgt.

Dwight did custom farming in the Sioux City area for many years. He was one of the founding members of ARC (Association of Retarded Children.)

Dwight and Gloria traveled extensively in their RV beginning in 1984 and made lifelong friends. They became snowbirds in Apache Junction in 1985. His hobbies included working with stained glass, helping family and friends build and remodel homes, garages and projects. He enjoyed fishing with his family. In 1990, he bought his first jeep and began his love of exploring his beloved Arizona desert and the Superstition Mountains. What started as small day trips with Gloria exploring the mountains and trails turned into him giving jeep tours. As word grew of his knowledge of the desert and his jeep skills, he started taking visitors of friends on day desert trips. He figured in all, he gave 1,500 trips with 4,000 people. He was the leader of many jeep caravan trips. During the later years, he joined the hard core MF jeepers and they would rock climb on nearly impassable areas. They would travel to Moab, Utah and rock climb.

Survivors include his wife, Colleen, his daughter, Joleene Nelson, (Jack Nelson), his sons, Gene (Bonnie), David (Danette) Kenagy, 5 grandchildren, Matthew (Kim) Nelson, Sarah Nelson, Jessica, Keith (Brigette), and Brian Kenagy; and 7 great grandchildren, Alex, Austin, Nelson, Ashlyn Thiele, Mia Thiphasouk, Dante Thomas, Sierra Jackson, Hannah Kenagy; stepdaughters, Terri Degner and Sherri Larimer and 6 step-grandchildren; 7 step-great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Carol (Jack) Patterson, Esther (Larry) Carlson, Sharon (Glenn) Bluml, brother & sister in-laws, Lowell Hull, Sharon Kenagy and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Gloria, brothers, Kenneth, Merlin, Dale and Ronald Kenagy; sisters, Kathryn Hull, Dorothy Ferguson.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to S.T.A.R.S. (Special Troopers Adaptive Riding School) 33148 Hwy K22, Sioux City, IA 51108. (S.T.A.R.S. is a horse therapy program for individuals that have special needs.) ~ Facebook post of 27 June 2016.