Pastor Jack D. Kendall
July 1, 1932 — April 6, 2019
Pastor Jack D. Kendall, 86, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, entered into his new heavenly life on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Living Center West in Cedar Rapids, IA. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2019, at Sharon United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial in Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service.
Jack was born on July 1, 1932, to Harry and Eula (Keller) Kendall, at home in Decatur County, near Leon, IA. He is survived by wife, Marie of Cedar Rapids; son, Dennis (Diana) of Quincy, IL, their children, Sarah Gill (Michael) and daughter Haddie of Fort Worth, TX, Andrew Kendall (Lindsay) and children Sam and Carter Schmidt and Harrison Kendall of Wichita Falls, TX, and Jacob Kendall of Lawrence, KS; daughter, Jacqueline Kendall-Gebel (David), children, Carrie (Nolan) Herring and Dr. Eva Gebel, all of Aurora, CO; and daughter, Julie Fry (Dwayne) of Cedar Rapids and son Kyle Ketelsen of Martelle, IA.
Jack was preceded in death by his youngest child, Douglas Kendall; parents, Harry and Eula; sister, Margie Hartnell and brother, Beryl Kendall.
Jack married Leona Marie Luce on July 8, 1953, at the Methodist Church of Osceola, IA. The first year of their married life was in Port Angeles, WA, where Jack was serving in the U. S. Coast Guard. The next 31 years were in New Hampton, IA, where all four of their children were born, after which Jack and Marie left New Hampton to serve churches across IA.
Jack was raised on a farm and was involved in 4-H and FFA. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1950. In 1951 he enlisted in the Coast Guard, serving aboard the USCG cutter Winona in the Pacific Ocean for three years during the Korean Conflict. After his enlistment, Jack and Marie moved to New Hampton, IA. Jack travelled with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. for four years and in 1959 became a partner in the S&S Firestone Store in New Hampton, which he and his partners operated for the next 25 years. In 1986, Jack and Marie liquidated the business, and Jack, at age 54, went to college, and to St. Paul’s Seminary in Kansas City, MO. This, while serving the three United Methodist Churches of Tingley, Ellston, and Wishard Chapel near Mt. Ayr, IA, his first parish. In 1992, the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church asked Jack and Marie to move to the Alburnett-Prairie Chapel Parish north of Cedar Rapids, as their pastor. In 1993, his undergraduate and seminary education completed, Jack was ordained as a Deacon of the United Methodist Church. In 1997, Jack and Marie bought a home in Cedar Rapids. In 1998, Jack retired from the Alburnett-Prairie parish and took a part-time position at the Asbury United Methodist Church. In 1999 he became a chaplain at the Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids and later worked with the hospice program of St. Luke’s Hospital.
Jack has been a people person his entire life. Some of his many friends had suggested that though Jack became a salesman early in life, by going into the ministry at 54, he was still selling. But as a very young man, serving the Lord for Jack, was his passion.
He dearly loved his children and felt so blessed to watch his grandchildren become adults themselves. He felt blessed by new great grandchildren as well.
He and Marie have been soul mates their entire journey. Every Friday evening was their date night and their deep love for each other never waned, but only grew more precious in the passage of time.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Sharon United Methodist Church and the American Heart Association.
Jack was born on July 1, 1932, to Harry and Eula (Keller) Kendall, at home in Decatur County, near Leon, IA. He is survived by wife, Marie of Cedar Rapids; son, Dennis (Diana) of Quincy, IL, their children, Sarah Gill (Michael) and daughter Haddie of Fort Worth, TX, Andrew Kendall (Lindsay) and children Sam and Carter Schmidt and Harrison Kendall of Wichita Falls, TX, and Jacob Kendall of Lawrence, KS; daughter, Jacqueline Kendall-Gebel (David), children, Carrie (Nolan) Herring and Dr. Eva Gebel, all of Aurora, CO; and daughter, Julie Fry (Dwayne) of Cedar Rapids and son Kyle Ketelsen of Martelle, IA.
Jack was preceded in death by his youngest child, Douglas Kendall; parents, Harry and Eula; sister, Margie Hartnell and brother, Beryl Kendall.
Jack married Leona Marie Luce on July 8, 1953, at the Methodist Church of Osceola, IA. The first year of their married life was in Port Angeles, WA, where Jack was serving in the U. S. Coast Guard. The next 31 years were in New Hampton, IA, where all four of their children were born, after which Jack and Marie left New Hampton to serve churches across IA.
Jack was raised on a farm and was involved in 4-H and FFA. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1950. In 1951 he enlisted in the Coast Guard, serving aboard the USCG cutter Winona in the Pacific Ocean for three years during the Korean Conflict. After his enlistment, Jack and Marie moved to New Hampton, IA. Jack travelled with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. for four years and in 1959 became a partner in the S&S Firestone Store in New Hampton, which he and his partners operated for the next 25 years. In 1986, Jack and Marie liquidated the business, and Jack, at age 54, went to college, and to St. Paul’s Seminary in Kansas City, MO. This, while serving the three United Methodist Churches of Tingley, Ellston, and Wishard Chapel near Mt. Ayr, IA, his first parish. In 1992, the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church asked Jack and Marie to move to the Alburnett-Prairie Chapel Parish north of Cedar Rapids, as their pastor. In 1993, his undergraduate and seminary education completed, Jack was ordained as a Deacon of the United Methodist Church. In 1997, Jack and Marie bought a home in Cedar Rapids. In 1998, Jack retired from the Alburnett-Prairie parish and took a part-time position at the Asbury United Methodist Church. In 1999 he became a chaplain at the Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids and later worked with the hospice program of St. Luke’s Hospital.
Jack has been a people person his entire life. Some of his many friends had suggested that though Jack became a salesman early in life, by going into the ministry at 54, he was still selling. But as a very young man, serving the Lord for Jack, was his passion.
He dearly loved his children and felt so blessed to watch his grandchildren become adults themselves. He felt blessed by new great grandchildren as well.
He and Marie have been soul mates their entire journey. Every Friday evening was their date night and their deep love for each other never waned, but only grew more precious in the passage of time.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Sharon United Methodist Church and the American Heart Association.
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