Catherine "Katie" Kennell

1929 - 2022

Catherine (Foltynewicz) "Katie" Kennell
Born: March 4, 1929 in LaSalle, IL
Died: August 30, 2022 in Lacon, IL
Catherine (Foltynewicz) "Katie" Kennell, 93, of Lostant, passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at Lacon Rehab and Nursing.
Mass of Christian Burial will 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 3, 2022, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Lostant with the Franciscan Friars officiating. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Lostant. Visitation will be 9-10:50 AM Saturday at the church. Arrangements are entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home, Lostant.
Mrs. Kennell was born March 4, 1929, in LaSalle to Anton and Gertrude (Petzel) Foltynewicz. She married Donald E. Kennell on August 30, 1958, at St. Patrick's Church, Ottawa. He passed away April 26, 1987.
Mrs. Kennell earned her Bachelors of Art degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana in Art Education. She taught with the military in Okinawa, Morocco and Germany. Returning to the states, she continued teaching at the Lostant Public School. She also enjoyed doing teaching demonstrations at the one-room schoolhouse in Utica. Through Global Volunteers, she taught children in Poland. She applied to the Teacher in Space program with NASA. Through that program, she was certified to handle moon rocks and was able to display them at the Lostant School.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Lostant and was past president of Women of St. John's. She was past president of the Lostant Library and was a member of the Illinois Education Association and the LaSalle County Historical Museum.
She is survived by her children; Toni Hartenbower of Lostant, Chris (Suzy) Kennell of Yorkville and Beth (Richard) Vlastnik of Peru; seven grandchildren, Ben, John, Jacob and Zach Hartenbower, Mary (Nick) Arellano, Tyler Kennell and Joseph Vlastnik; a great-grandson, Lane Hartenbower and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Gregory in infancy; five brothers, Edward Foltynewicz, Frank "Fritz" Folty, Richard Foltynewicz, Eugene Folty and Ronald Foltynewicz and three sisters, Clara and Dolores Foltynewicz and Irene Sharp.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lostant Library, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Lostant or the Lostant Ambulance.
the online guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.MuellerFH.com.