Kenkel, Fr. Benedict Joseph (1927 - 2019)

KENKEL, BISSEN, STALEY

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 13:28:46

Name of deceased: Benedict Joseph Kenkel

Aged: 91 yrs, 11 mo, 13 days

Residence: Elmcrest Retirement Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Sep. 10, 1927; location not provided

Died: Aug. 28, 2019; Elmcrest Retirement Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019; St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Earling, IA; burial was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Earling, IA

Survived by: Siblings, Bernice Bissen of Defiance, IA, Sister Kathleen F.S.P.A. of LaCrosse, WI, Elaine Staley of Charter Oak, IA, Joe (spouse, Loretta) Kenkel of Earling, IA, and George (spouse, Bonnie) Kenkel of Harlan, IA; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Joe and Antoinette Kenkel; brother, Bob Kenkel; sister, Germaine Staley; brothers-in-law, Leonard Bissen, Marvin Staley, and Don Staley; sister-in-law, Maxine Kenkel; stepmother, Irene Kenkel

Education: Graduated from St. Joseph High School, Earling, IA, Conception (MO.) Seminary, and Catholic University, Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1953 at St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines, IA. He completed his studies with a degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum, in Rome in 1955.

Religious affiliation: Catholic

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: n/a

Employment: He served as Assistant Pastor in St. Anthony Church in Des Moines, IA; in 1957, he was made the Assistant Pastor at St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines, IA. In 1962, he became the Dean of Studies at Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, IA. He returned to the Diocese of Des Moines and, after a short time as temporary administrator of St. Mary of Rosemount (IA), was made Pastor of St. Anthony Church in Des Moines, IA in 1968. In 1979, he was relocated to Council Bluffs, IA as Pastor of St. Peter Church. His final assignment was St. Mary Guthrie Center and St. Cecelia, Panora, IA, in 1986. He retired in 2001.

He had several positions on the matrimonial tribunal of the Diocese of Des Moines, IA. He was a chaplain in the Knights of Columbus in the parishes where he served. He was a member of the St. Joseph Educational Center Board and the St. Albert Board of Education. He served one term on the Executive Committee of the Council of Priests. He belonged to the Civitan Club, the South of Des Moines (IA) Ministerial Association and was a board member of the South Des Moines (IA) YMCA.

Hobbies/Interests: golf; visiting his siblings and friends

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com