Joan Kenning

KENNING, Joan Sunday, July 12, at approximately 10:30AM, Joan W. Kenning at the age of 70 succumbed to her battle with colon cancer. She is survived by husband Todd Kenning, brother Dean Sutherland and four children Kerry Kenning, Kami Harris, Donald Kenning and Tom Kenning. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Nick Kenning, Jordan Harris, Jared Kenning, Sean Kenning and Cynthia Kenning and two daughter-in-laws Rachel and Vanessa Kenning. Joan grew up on a small wheat farm near Washtucna Washington. After attending high school in Washtucna (go Wildcats!) she went on to college at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. While attending, she met Todd Kenning. In the spring of their senior year (59-60) they were married. They both graduated in the summer of 1960 with degrees in Education. They both began teaching careers, however, Joan became a home maker after having the third of her four children. After a brief time in Georgia, Joan and Todd were back in Washington state. Over the next 20 years they lived in Pine City, Clarkston, Cle Elem and Hoodsport. For the last few years of Todd's career, he taught at Finley, Washington while living in Kennewick, where Joan spent the rest of her life. Next spring would have been Joan and Todd's 50th wedding anniversary. It was not always easy managing a household on a teacher's salary with four children so Joan took part time jobs at times while the children were growing up and Todd would find some work in the summers. However, family was the most important thing to Joan and she spent all her waking hours making sure the family was taken care of. As the four children grew up and left home, Joan would help out in her community in any way that she could and had many friends in the Hoodsport area (as well as Washtucna). In the last approximately 20 years she has made many friends in the Kennewick area and has volunteered at the church they attend. Music has also been important to Joan all her life. She learned to play the piano and French horn growing up in Washtucna. All four of her children played an instrument in Junior high and a few of her grandchildren also have the music bug (Nick and Cynthia). She was very pleased to see her 60 year old French horn played in the Kamiakin High symphony by her granddaughter Cynthia. Joan's Funeral will be at the First Methodist Church on Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick, Washington on Monday, July 20 at 10:00 AM. A reception at the church will follow. The grave site service will be in the Washtucna Cemetery at 1:30 PM the same day. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that a gift be made to the American Cancer Society in her name. You may do that on your own or go the following web site. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/Events/MosaicofHope?pxfid=529084&fr_id=9910&pg=fund