Janet L. Kenkel

Janet Louise (Chunat) Kenkel 95, of Asbury, Iowa, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on October 26, 2025, at her beloved memory care center Luther Manor Grand Meadows.
Visitation for Janet will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Saint Columbkille Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Robert Gross officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, Dubuque, Iowa, is assisting the family.
Janet was born on December 2,1929 in Wauzeka, Wisconsin, the daughter of William and Anna (Bily) Chunat. She grew up with her seven sisters and two brothers on their family farm. She received her education and graduated from Prairie du Chien High School and immediately moved to Dubuque, Iowa as her forever home. It was here that she feverishly studied Catholicism and became a member of the Catholic Dioceses of Dubuque.
All of her life, Janet attended daily mass and devoted her life to the community and to prayer. In her early days in Dubuque, she met the love of her life, John "Jack" Dale Kenkel. On October 7, 1949, Jack and Janet were united in marriage at St Patrick's Church in Dubuque, Iowa. They lived in Dubuque and raised their four children there until they moved to the small town of Epworth, Iowa. They eventually moved to a beef farm outside Epworth - this was their dream to own land and Cattle. Jack preceded Janet in death too soon on Sept 3, 1977.
Janet loved God, she was a woman of great faith and prayer. She took a strong stand for the rights of the unborn. This led her to being one of the first volunteers for the Dubuque County Right to Life answering phones, speaking to new moms and helping around the office. Janet continued to volunteer for over 16 years.
Another love of Mom, Grandma, Gummy was line dancing, and all the traditional dances like jitterbug, two step and Waltz. Janet performed dance exhibitions with her dance group at care centers in Dubuque entertaining residents well into her 70's. She also had a love of music; she played piano by ear and loved to be joined in singing and making music and a few dance steps to accompany.
In her "spare" time she was a member of several ladies bowling leagues and was a frequent fixture at Riverside Lanes, her bowling pin average was 242 which made her in high demand. She also enjoyed being with family in a Dubuque rec volleyball league for several years. She was a natural athlete who loved a good competitive game!
Janet was a great mother and grandmother as her heart was always yearning for family gatherings. She was an avid card player and loved playing games from euchre to hearts to rummy, teaching and playing with all the family. Holidays were her very special "Family time" to celebrate one another; there was always great food, fellowship and a card game in the mix.
Her heart was also in her lush vegetable garden where she grew every vegetable and fruit she could, canning the organic foods to take her and her family through the winter. She proudly grew a substantial raspberry patch and would take the grandkids to eat the fruit off the vines and then to her vegetable garden with a saltshaker so they could dine on bright red heirloom tomatoes from the field. Gardening, nature and God's creatures were her favorite pastime.
She also had a love for travel, she enjoyed traveling with friends across the USA as well as Czechoslovakia, Russia, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Germany and France.
Janet is survived by her three children: twin sons David Alan Kenkel, Douglas Alan (Sherri Mellon) Kenkel, both of Dubuque and Asbury; her daughter, Dori (Carey) Witt of Volente, TX.; twelve beautiful grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren as well as a dear sister-in-law, Barbara (Joe) Meyer.
She was preceded in death by her husband John "Jack" Dale Kenkel; her parents William and Anna; her eldest son Dale John Kenkel; her great grandson Zayn Michael Kenkel; seven sisters: Marian "Toots", Dorothy, Leona, Patricia, twins Betty & Jean, Shirley, and her two brothers William and John "Bud". Brothers-in-law: William Kenkel, and Robert Kenkel; sister-in-law Marlene Hellman and her father and mother-in-law, Frank and Irene (Schnee) Kenkel.
Our heartfelt gratitude to our dear friends and nursing staff at Luther Manor Grand Meadows who loved, laughed with and cherished mom with compassionate care until her death. We love the way you loved Janet through the six years she was with you. And in mom's later years, Hospice of Dubuque was by her side caring for her daily. Thank you to all our precious caregivers!
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.leonardfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Dubuque or Dubuque County Right to life, Inc. 2205 Carter Road, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
We love you, Mom, Grandma, Gummy - Heavenly peace be with you; and until we meet again, may God bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand.
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