Dorothy Kennel

Dorothy Kennel, 98, of Mishawaka, Indiana and a former resident of Berne, passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana

She was born on March 24, 1924, in Adams County, Indiana to the late John W. and Mary (Schindler) Zimmerman. Dorothy was united in marriage to Howard W. Kennel on February 26, 1944, and he preceded her in death on April 11, 2010.

She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in South Bend, Indiana.

Dorothy worked in the local Berne dime store in 1943 before meeting her husband of 66 years. After starting a family she and her husband moved to a small farm in Berne. In 1965 she moved with the family to Plymouth, Indiana, and started a custom upholstery business until the fall of 1980. While residing in Plymouth, Dorothy was a member of the Plymouth Wesleyan Church and was active a Sunday School Teacher and Missions leader. In 1980 Howard and Dorothy moved to Florida where she worked at TG&Y and McCroy’s department stores until she retired at the age of 79. She and her husband moved back to the Berne area in 1993. After the passing of her husband in 2010, Dorothy resided in Mishawaka, Indiana for the past 12 years.

Dorothy enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, genealogy, and reading Amish themed books

Survivors include two sons, Earl Kennel of Des Moines, Iowa and David Kennel of Mishawaka, Indiana; daughter, Patricia (Wayne) Wilborn of Mishawaka, Indiana; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Suzanne Marshall; five brothers; one sister; and many aunts and uncles.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 21, 2022 at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager – Kirchhofer Chapel, Berne, Indiana with Pastor Andy Lauer and Pastor Keith Rupp officiating. Burial will follow in the M.R.E. Cemetery in Berne.

Family and friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service time on Monday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials can be given to South Bend First Nazarene - Youth Group.

Arrangements are by the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Yager – Kirchhofer chapel in Berne