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In memory of
Shirl Kenney
1935 - September 24, 2020
1935 - Sep 24, 2020
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Shirl's Celebration of life and a tree planted in memory of Shirl.
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Shirl's obituary
We will be holding a celebration of life for Shirl on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Horseshoe Falls Lodge, 1815 Horseshoe Falls Road, Central City, IA 52214. The celebration will be from 1 pm-5 pm
Shirl Kenney was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 15, 1935, to Velma Densmore and David Roger Hillis. She grew up in Lexington, where she developed a love for music and the water. She went on to play piccolo in the band at college, where she met her husband. Shirl graduated from Michigan State Normal College in 1953 with a degree in elementary education. She married James Kenney in 1955, and together they had five children. Shirl began her teaching career in Cedar Rapids, where she taught Kindergarten and first grade. She was passionate about teaching and loved her students. Shirl was known to do headstands with her students; This earned her the moniker of “cool” among them. She was also well known in her community, especially around Halloween. Every year Shirl would dress up as a witch, screeching and cackling through the school, restaurants, and other establishments. She always said, “this is the one day I don’t have to wear make-up.”
After suffering a stroke in 1987, Shirl retired from teaching. But retirement did not mean retiring her spirit. Retirement for Shirl merely brought about a new chapter in her life, full of excitement and adventure. She traveled the world, skied the mountains, experienced different cultures, spent time with her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren, and shared her love for adventure with all of them. In 2000, Shirl biked the world with the Odyssey Tour. She biked 45 countries and six continents, totaling 12,096 miles over a year. Shirl always knew how to make an entrance. For her 50th high school class reunion, she biked from her house in Cedar Rapids, IA, to Lexington, Michigan—biking a total of 1,364 miles. She was gone for 37 nights but only spent $160 on lodging. To say that Shirl knew how to stretch a dollar is an understatement. At the age of 70, Shirl biked the Antarctic Marathon. Shirl achieved her goal of biking in all 50 states in 2017. She was always up for an adventure, and She touched so many people during all of them. Shirl was welcoming and accepting to all.
Shirl is survived by four children: Karen Stierler (Coralville), Jeff Stierler (Marengo), Kathy and Jim Takes (Cascade), Kristin and Jim Austin (Hawaii), and Jim and Yamei Kenney (MD). Eleven grandchildren: Jaime and Nick Mesenbrink, Kilee and Tim Dunham, Brittany and Eric Krebill, Austin Stierler, Kari and Scott Wheeler, Dana and Orofenere Ukiri, Isaac Coohey, McKenzie Meikle, Ryan Meikle, James Kenney, and Devon Kenney, and Eighteen great-grandchildren. Shirl is preceded in death by her son Jeffery, a brother David and her parents
We will miss Shirl dearly. We find comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering, and her spirit is free as she was a free spirit during her life on earth.
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Shirl's Celebration of life and a tree planted in memory of Shirl.
$150.00
total raised
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Shirl's Celebration of life and a tree planted in memory of Shirl.
$150.00
total raised
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
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Created with love by
Dana Ukiri (Shirl's granddaughter).
