Mathilda Katherine "Katie" Kendall

Katie was born on a farm outside Exira, Iowa in 1935. She graduated from the Broadlawns Nursing School in Des Moines in 1956. She married Ray Kendall on December 28, 1957, and they had three children: Katherine, Julie, and Mark. She lost Ray in 1979 and Mark in 2021, she never stopped grieving their passing. She worked as a nurse for decades and volunteered at a clinic in Des Moines for many years after retiring. Her volunteer activities extended far beyond nursing: she was once voted volunteer of the year for Iowa Public Television. The past few years found her frequently at Holy Trinity Lutheran helping with the Food Pantry and other activities. It was in her DNA to find ways to help others every day. Katie has five grandchildren: Andy, Marcus, Claire, Kevin, and Eric. She has one great-granddaughter, Rory, who recently turned one. She loved spending time with all of them and was always eager to hear about their lives. She wasn’t a fancy cook, but her meatloaf and cowboy coffee cake were required repasts when the grand-kids were young. Katie gave in to her wanderlust after her kids left home: cruises to Alaska and Norway, safaris in Africa, travels in Europe, and most recently road trips through the western U.S. She visited Disney parks on both coasts with Kathy and Claire. She loved to laugh, was constantly reading at least one romance novel, and passed plenty of peaceful hours in her garden. She will be missed by many. A Celebration of Life will be 10AM Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 517 SW Des Moines Street, Ankeny, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4PM-6PM Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the church. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery at Noon on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Food Pantry in her memory. https://www.holytrinityankeny.org/food-pantry.html Please follow the link below to watch the live stream of Katie’s service. https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fhtlc-funeral&data=05%7C02%7C%7C6398c950adaa47af055408dc63327c87%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638494315704257916%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=m9QupM5unN8wQaJ%2FDgRtkDT72ig8EmFSGy65VFwjv6I%3D&reserved=0 all floral deliveries may be delivered to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 517 SW Des Moines Street in Ankeny.

Mathilda Katherine "Katie" Kendall

June 28, 1935 - April 13, 2024