Kenkel, John P. 1867-1911

KENKEL, LILLING, BRABAND

Posted By: Ethel Cunningham (email)
Date: 5/21/2023 at 07:51:32

Children Are Orphaned
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Death Leaves Six Children on World’s Tender Mercies

In the death of J. P. Kenkel, a tenant residing on the Jacob Rubel farm, north of town, six children are left fatherless and motherless and the glad Christmas time for others will be the saddest of the year for the unfortunate children bereft at a tender age of the loving care of both mother and father. The children ranging in age from fourteen to three years old. The mother died on June 2d last, following an operation for a serious internal malady. The father had suffered for some years from heart trouble and have been warned by physicians to avoid any undue or violent fatigue. Two weeks ago he contracted a cold which developed into a lung fever, and this with his weakened heart affected with valvular leakage, proved fatal. During his illness his faithful hired man, his children and a trained nurse, with physicians, did their best to withstay the approach of the death angel, but without avail, and he passed away to the beyond on Tuesday night, surrounded by his griefstricken children, and comforted by the solace of the ministrations of mother church. J. P. Kenkel was born in Lieferingen, in the grand duchy of Luxenburg, Europe, in 1867, where he attended school and grew to manhood. He was united in marriage in his native land with Anna Katrina Lilling in 1892. Shortly after marriage they came to America and settled at Granville in 1893, where they lived until 1895, when they moved onto a farm in Marion township. For the past few years they had lived on the Rubel place, 3 miles north of this city. The six children are Will, Lucy, Nick, Tracy, Louise and Maggie.

The funeral took place on Thursday morning at St. Joseph’s church, Rev. Father Feuerstein officiating, and the remains of the deceased were laid beside those of his wife in the St. Joseph’s cemetery.

The children have an uncle living near Marcus and relatives in the old country. The baby of the family will be cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Braband, and this family and Rev. Father Feuerstein in the Sisters of St. Joseph will look after the welfare of the other children.

(Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel - Friday, December 22nd, 1911)