Nadene Kepler

Nadene Clara Henkel Kepler, age 78, passed away peacefully at her home in Mesa, Arizona, on February 9, 2026. Nadene was a devoted wife of 57 years and loved her family and her God with all her heart. Her life was centered on faith, family, and the joy she found in those she loved and served.

She is survived by her loving husband, Gerald D. Kepler; her children: Dalyn (Cindy) Kepler and their children Aaron, Austin, Kaydee (Colton Biley), Tristan, Jordan, Dalton, and Carson; Kellie (Kory) Cloud and their children Kolin and Kessondra; Derrick (Krista) Kepler and their children Zachary and Ariel; Kandy (Jarrod) Hyde and their children Angeleen, Taylor (Kyle Charlie), Jadelyn and her daughter Wrenley, Brooklyn, and Chloe; and Dale (Anita) Kepler and their children Sydney, Charlyze, and Ryan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Millie Henkel, and her two older brothers, Henry and Omar.

Nadene was born on April 26th, 1947 prematurely at just three pounds, a fragile beginning that foreshadowed a lifetime defined by resilience and quiet strength. She survived through the devoted care of her mother, a nurse, and grew up on Henkel Street named after her father that built most of the homes on their cul-de-sac. A self-proclaimed "daddy's girl," she fondly remembered her father baking bread in milk cans and the smell that filled the house, as well as her mother's chocolate chip cookies and homemade fig jam from the backyard tree. She was known for running fast enough to outrun most neighborhood kids and playing endless games with friends, already showing the energy and athleticism that would mark her later years.

She attended most of high school at Westwood in Arizona before graduating from Jordan High School in Utah while her father served a building mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. Nadene studied at Mesa Community College to become a physical education teacher and excelled in track, setting a city mile record. Though she once wished to play drums, she instead played clarinet for several years and carried a lifelong love of music, later building an impressive record collection.

Nadene met her husband in high school, and after reconnecting upon his return from a church mission, they married in 1968 and were sealed in the Mesa Temple. Their honeymoon in California included unforgettable adventures and set the tone for a marriage full of stories. Their life was filled with pets-especially beloved black and yellow Labradors-and the joyful chaos of raising puppies and children. Nadene created family traditions that became legend, including Christmas white elephant exchanges that featured gifts as unusual as a diesel piston and a high-voltage fuse. She was emotionally present and deeply supportive, giving each child personal attention and beginning mornings with talks and prayers before school.

As a licensed cosmetologist, she used her skills to care for family and friends, keeping her license active for many years. For over 20 years, Nadene drove a school bus, primarily serving special education students, a role she performed with patience and unrivaled care. She loved the water and spent countless hours swimming with her children, later introducing the entire family to scuba diving. What began as a hobby became a shared passion, as a family they explored the underwater world in Cozumel, Cancun, San Carlos, Kauai, and the Bahamas.

Later in life, Nadene and her husband served a senior mission in Indonesia, living in Surabaya and Jakarta. She was deeply loved by the local women and started a prenatal care initiative that provided vitamins and food to expectant mothers, helping reduce birth defects and strengthen families. Her service reflected her lifelong compassion and love of the gospel. She was remembered by those closest to her as strong in moments that required difficult decisions, tender in her relationships, inspiring laughter, and unwavering in her love for family and friends.

Nadene cherished traditions, friendships, and simple pleasures. She loved chocolate-especially peanut M&Ms, Raisinettes, Whoppers, Milky Ways, and turtles-and was famous for her green chile burritos. She loved playing games such as Pinochle, Hand and Foot, and Mexican Train with family and friends. She dreamed of one day living in a house on a Hawaiian beach, a fitting image for someone who loved the ocean and embraced life with curiosity and joy.

Above all, Nadene will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her generous heart, her innocence and trust in others, and the deep devotion she showed her family and her God. Her stories, traditions, laughter, and love continue to echo in the lives of those she leaves behind. She will be profoundly missed and forever cherished.