Eugene Kestel

Eugene "Gene" Kestel, age 93, of Storm Lake, Iowa went to heaven on Friday, August 20, 2021, peacefully in his sleep at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa. Funeral Mass will take place Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the CHURCH. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. He was the son of Joseph and Kathryn Kestel. He was born on the family farm southeast of Storm Lake on February 14, 1928. He graduated in 1946 from Hayes High School in rural Storm Lake. On June 13, 1949, he married the love of his life, Doreen Beverly Wilson in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Schaller, Iowa. This marriage was blessed with five children. Gene and Doreen celebrated their 72nd anniversary this past June. Gene and his family loved to travel. They vacationed with yearly trips. Camping across the United States from coast to coast and most of southern Canada left everyone with wonderful memories. If there was a National Park or Monuments, it was visited. Gene and Doreen continued their trips by trailer, RV and motorcycle. Their most memorable vacations were the two trips to Alaska. Gene’s love of music started in high school band and his musical life lasted until his last days. He was a member of the B-K Combo (Bloyer-Kestel) with Everett and Dick Bloyer and Don Kestel. The group played at local dance clubs for many years including Cobblestone here in Storm Lake. In the group he sang and played the tenor saxophone. He taught himself to read music so he could play the organ and electric piano. In more recent years, he played with Roger Christianson at golden anniversaries and at area nursing homes. For approximately 15 years, Gene and Doreen became snowbirds heading to Yuma, Arizona. He played his music with the RV park band weekly. He also renewed his interest in flying model airplanes. Or should we say wrecking model airplanes. He enjoyed hours of flying his model aircraft in fields near Yuma and Storm Lake. They spent many summers at their lake house in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Gene was also mechanically gifted. He loved motors of all kinds, until computer parts came along. He still worked on small engines until recent years. He also had a knack for building things. To accommodate his growing family, he built on an addition onto the house and a nice garage with the help of friends. Later in life, he liked to do some wood working. When Doreen could no longer take care of her garden, Gene stepped right in. He maintained the flowers and added more each year. He loved the flowers but always tucked in a few tomato plants, which he loved. Of course, Doreen surpervised until the last year or so. Gene is survived by his devoted wife, Doreen Beverly Kestel; five children: Cynthia Waller (Leonard Schupp) of Lawrence, Kansas; Kevin Kestel (Karen) of Storm Lake, Iowa; Elaine Kennedy of Sioux City, Iowa; Laurel Walsh of Clarksdale, Missouri; Cetha Henrich (Jeff Mendenhall) of Storm Lake, Iowa; 14 grandchildren: Todd Waller (Erin); Tiffany Waller; Nick Kestel; Mike Kestel (Lesley); T.J. Schaefer (Josie); Ryan Kennedy (Krisi); Brooke Hensley (Gary); McKenzie Williams; Aaron Walsh; Stephanie Crawford (Josh); Damion Walsh (Monica); Tracey Fogarty (Mike); Jace Henrich (Mandy); Carlie Weidner (Chris); Aaron Mendenhall (Sarah Stephens); many great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Kathryn Kestel; his brother, Donald and Gladys Kestel; his sister, Delores and John Gaffney.

Eugene Kestel

February 14, 1928 - August 20, 2021