Jay Rollin Kennel, 58, of Riverside, California, passed away at his home on November 17, 2023 surrounded by his family after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer.

Jay was born to Pauline and LeRoy Kennel, on October 9, 1965 in Elmhurst, Illinois. He was the youngest of their four children. His family described Jay as fun-loving, fearless, athletic, competitive, passionate and kind. Although musically inclined from a young age, (he played the trombone and was first chair through elementary and junior high school), he gave it up for his first love, sports.

His passion for athletics would carry through from Willowbrook High School in Illinois to Goshen College in Indiana, where he attended and became a four year letterman and starter on the university’s baseball team. Although active in many, if not all of the intramural teams Goshen had to offer, his dedication to sports went further than just participation. He was the play-by-play and color announcer at his college’s basketball games and a staff/sports writer for Goshen’s newspaper, The Record. Even while studying abroad in Costa Rica for his senior mission trip, he was assigned to teach young children living near the coast how to swim.

Jay graduated in 1987 with a BA degree in Communications and Business. Shortly thereafter, he packed up his car, and he, along with two best friends from high school, headed to California. Only one of them had a job lined up and it wasn’t Jay. Motivated and determined however, he never would move back to the Midwest and ended up staying in California for the last 35 years of his life.

In 1989 he met his future wife Laura at Donnelley while they were in training together to work in advertising sales. They separated after training as they worked in different offices. At a company Christmas party six months later they reunited and realized they would both be in Chicago for the holidays visiting their families. They went on their first date while there and were essentially inseparable since New Year’s Eve 1989.

In 1994 Jay and Laura were married in Dana Point, California. They settled in Riverside, California in 1997 when they had their first child, a daughter, Emily, followed by their son Jason in 2000. Jay was a dedicated and selfless family man who always put his loved-ones first. He was also a driven and hardworking businessman and entrepreneur. Towards the latter part of his life he started his own highly successful business and because of his commitment to putting his family first, originally wanted to call it Legacy Business Solutions. That name was unfortunately taken so they settled on Integrity Payments which worked well too. Jay was a man of integrity and faith, loyalty, generosity, and quiet strength. And he loved his people with all that he had. If he called you a friend, you were in his circle for life. Jay was a man who led with his heart. His last words spoke only about love. He will be missed beyond measure but his legacy of love will live on forever.

Jay is survived by his wife of 29 years, Laura and their two children, Emily and Jason. He is also survived by his mother Pauline Kennel, his siblings and their spouses: Jon (Mary) Kauffmann-Kennel, Rita (Larry) Lopienski, Janice (Lonnie) Ropp, along with six nieces and nephews and four great-nieces and nephews. Jay was predeceased by his father, LeRoy Kennel. He also leaves behind a community of friends and extended family that will miss him dearly.

Jay’s family will host a memorial service followed by a reception in the fellowship hall on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 10:30AM. The service will be held at: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 5455 Alessandro Blvd, Riverside, CA 92506

The memorial service will be livestreamed via the church YouTube page at: Immanuel Lutheran Church and Schools-Riverside. Select “live” at 10:30AM PST on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance: https://www.ccalliance.org/?

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