Doreen B. Kestel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Doreen Kestel, age 92, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake. Funeral services will take place Monday, June 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service at the CHURCH. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements. Doreen Beverly Kestel was born on August 24, 1929 to Arthur and Dorothy (Anderson) Wilson of Schaller, Iowa. She was the first of six girls born into this family. As a child of the depression, she told us many stories such as homemade dresses, cutting cardboard each night to put inside their shoes for school the next day, walking the railroad tracks to pick coal to help heat the house, coupons for groceries and gas, going to stay at her Aunt Nora’s house each summer, being hospitalized in Sioux City, Iowa, for months for a ruptured appendix, being hospitalized for months once again with pneumonia, her daily visits from Aunt Becky while being hospitalized, being one of the first people in Iowa to get penicillin which made her lose all her hair. And how she met the love of her life while bald. Doreen graduated in 1947 from Schaller High School. She was an avid basketball player. After graduation she worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company until she married. She married Eugene (Gene) Robert Kestel, her high school sweetheart on June 13, 1949, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Schaller. Five children blessed this union: Cynthia, Kevin, Elaine, Laurel and Cetha. They were happily married for 72 years. Doreen was a mostly stay at home mom. She helped with Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, a member of the music boosters of St. Mary’s School. She also was a room mother for all five kids at one time or another. Most, if not all, of the neighborhood kids checked in at our house and found cookies, cakes, and brownies for an after-school snack while their moms are still at work. Magically, each summer mom would pack up the station wagon for all seven of us. Off we would go on another 2–5-week vacation. How my parents were able to get the tent, food, camping equipment and all that luggage into that one vehicle; but it was done. After several years the family upgraded to small travel trailer. Mom and Dad continued to love to travel even after all of us kids were out of the house. Their Alaska trips were their favorite. As adults, we came home frequently to share our ever-expanding families. Sometimes the trips included going to Big Spirit Lake to stay at the lake house or maybe a short trip to see them when they became snowbirds and wintered in Yuma, Arizona. Doreen had a close group of ladies that were special to her. She loved her “Ladies Night Out” with Helen Bosley, Shirley Kelly, Jo Kozisek and Loreen Prchal. She also bowled several years and was a high bowler on the Storm Lake bowling League. Traveling with her sisters was also a joy. They made trips to Colorado to their sister, Bonnye. They all loved going to flea markets and garage sales. They got so good at “collecting stuff” they in turn started selling at flea markets to sell all their treasures. Doreen was an avid Hawkeye basketball fan. During summer and fall there were the Minnesota Twins to root onto victory. She knew the coaches, players’ names, and many of the game’s statistics. Doreen was preceded in death by her dear husband Gene, her parents Art and Dorothy Wilson; sisters: Bonnye Filer, Glenice (George) Koth; Joan Vrana; Marjorie (Doug) Hussey; and sons-in-law: Rick Williams; Mark Sill. She is survived by Cynthia Waller (Leonard Schupp); Kevin (Karen) Kestel; Elaine Kennedy; Laurel Walsh; Cetha Henrich (Jeff Mendenhall); sister: Cheryl Haack; 15 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.

Doreen B. Kestel

August 24, 1929 - June 9, 2022