Kendall, Roma E. 1916-2009

KENDALL, STEFFEN, KOCH

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2009 at 11:14:07

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, January 29, 2009

Roma E. Kendall, 92, of Remsen, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Roma was born Oct. 21, 1916, the first of four daughters born to William and Mary (Steffen) Koch on Oct. 21, 1916, on the family farm in rural Remsen. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, now Christ Lutheran Church LCMS, in Remsen. She was educated through the eighth grade in the rural school system. Due to her father's ill health, she left school to work on the family farm. In 1934, she moved with her family to Arizona and Texas to live because of her father's health. He died in December 1936. In 1937, she moved to Santa Monica, Calif., where she did domestic work. From 1942 to 1944 she worked at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica as a "Rosie the Rivetor."

On Oct. 7, 1944, she married Edgar "Ed" Kendall in Santa Monica, Calif., while he was in the military service. After Ed's discharge, they remained in southern California, where she was employed in the aerospace industry.

They moved to Remsen in April 1994 and entered Happy Siesta Care Center in October 2006. Ed died Jan. 6, 2007.

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church LCMS and the church's Ladies Aid, the Jolly Bidders Card Club and a coffee club. Her hobbies in California were bowling, raising roses and orchids. She was a past member of the Emblem Club of the Ladies Elks in California.

Survivors include a daughter, Donna Kendall of Remsen; two sisters, Esther Schlerf of Baltimore, Md., and Arlene Wolf of Remsen; and eight nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter in infancy; a sister, Lois Beelner and her husband Marcel; three brothers-in-law, John Schlerf, Harold Letsche and James Wolf; and a nephew in infancy.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Christ Lutheran Church LCMS in Remsen, with the Rev. Dennis Martens officiating. Burial will be in the Remsen Community Cemetery in Remsen.

Friends may call after 3 p.m. today (Thursday). There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Christ Lutheran Church in Remsen. Visitation will resume on Friday from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.

The Fisch Funeral Home of Remsen is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Fred Eiteman, Dennis Vaske, Mike Beelner, Randy Schmitt, Tom Letsche and Rich Recker.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland.