Ronald L. Kennel, 81, died Monday, February 3, 2025 at Goshen Hospital, Goshen, Indiana.
He was born March 5, 1943 to Lester and Lola (Stauffer) Kennel on their farm near Strang, Nebraska. They preceded him in death.
At age 11, Ron accepted Christ and was baptized into Salem Mennonite Church, Shickley, Nebraska and is where he began to sense a call to pastoral ministry.
He began elementary school in a rural one-room school and then attended Shickley Public School where he graduated in 1960. He continued his education at Hesston College and on to Goshen College where he graduated in 1964.
On August 23, 1964 he married Judy Kauffman. Their home was blessed by two children, Steven and Anne.
At Hesston and Goshen College, his childhood sense of call to pastoral ministry was reawakened and nurtured. He was led to enroll at Goshen Biblical Seminary (now AMBS) where he graduated in 1967. He was ordained to pastoral ministry, November 19, 1967.
Ron served as assistant pastor of North Goshen Mennonite Church, 1965-67, pastor of Wellman (IA) Mennonite Church 1967-80; 1981-87; moderator, Iowa-Nebraska Mennonite Conference 1982-85, chaplain at Oaklawn Hospital, 1988-89, pastor at Clinton Brick Mennonite Church, 1990-2007; overseer/congregational coach at Benton Mennonite Church since 1995, and volunteer pastor at College Mennonite Church since 2015.
Ron is survived by his wife Judy; son, Steven (Christine) Kennel, Youngstown, Ohio; daughter, Anne Arp, Venice, Florida; and granddaughters, Alyssa Kennel and Elle Arp.
He is also survived by a brother, Cecil (Sharon) Kennel, Strang, Nebraska; a sister, Debra (Mike) Jaberg, Kalona, Iowa; nephew, Doug (Serena) Kennel; nieces, Angie (Steve) Nitzsche and Kristine (Travis) Kliewer; and great-nieces and nephews, Corban Gibson, Harleigh Gibson, Hunter Gibson, Kristopher Nitzsche, Benjamin Nitzsche and Lara Kliewer.
Visitation will be Friday, February 7, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and one hour prior to the 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday, February 8, at College Mennonite Church.
Memorial gifts in Ron’s honor are encouraged for the College Mennonite Church Encircling Fund.
