Irene Louise Kenning

On May 1, 2025 our Heavenly Father took Irene Louise Kenning in His loving embrace and called her home, ending her enduring battle with cancer.

Irene was born September 30, 1950 in Lexington, NE to Clifford and Laura (Voss) Wilcox. She attended Bryan Elementary in Lexington from Kindergarten through 5th grade and then Pershing Elementary for 6th grade. In 1968 she graduated from Saint Ann’s High School.

On October 2, 1970 she married Denny Kenning in Layfayette, Colorado. Their story began in a tiny basement house in Elwood where they were blessed with two children; Kelly and Tag.

“Rene” worked various jobs including: the Elwood elevator, the meat department at the local grocery store, and the Elwood Vet Clinic. In 1976 they moved to the farm North of Elwood where this smalltown Catholic girl soon became an amazing farm wife! Early mornings and late into the evening Rene worked alongside her husband maintaining the farm, never tiring from seeing the outcome of hard work. In August of 1985, she began babysitting, “Rene’s girls” until April of 1992 when the last of them would start school. She then took the Secretarial position at the Elwood Care Center for 27 years, along with countless other roles where she developed special relationships with many residents and co-workers.

Rene cherished the work that came with each season, never letting any time in her day be wasted. Denny used to say “I wish I had half her energy”. In the spring and summer she could be found walking behind the mower or on the rider around the farm, as well as watering and weeding. The cherries and other fruits would be picked and stored and the sweet corn frozen. Fall was canning month and her motto was “no tomato shall be wasted”; she made juices, pasta sauce, and salsa of every degree.

By late fall the canning supplies were finally put to rest and the planning and preparation for the Wilcox Christmas gathering would begin. Huge pots of soup on the stove and a counter full of snacks and pies of every kind and no one left hungry! Nothing warmed her heart more than having her family together to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

On cold winter days she warmed her kitchen with a lot of baking. Her freezer was always full of Tupperware boxes with homemade cinnamon rolls for sharing. She was famous for her “My*T*Fine” pies and her chocolate or carrot sheet cakes, Aunt Helen’s pink frosted sugar cookies, and numerous other sweet treats.

Rene cherished every moment spent with her grandkids taking in hours of sporting events and concerts. She also enjoyed a second generation of horse shows as the “horseshow Grandma” and added a new level attending NCTA College Ranch Horse competitions across several states.

With work completed she discovered she loved cruising! It began when she joined her sister, Janice, on the Breast Cancer survivor Cruise Ship in 2010. On her second cruise she was paired with her cabinmate Ilsa Wheeler and they took five more cruises together. Even though they lived 588 miles apart the two would go for daily walks chatting nonstop thanks to I-phone technology. She also made three memorable trips, Two to Applefest in Cedaredge, CO and a very special one to Florida to walk barefoot on the beach with her bestie. Rene took a land cruise with Tag to see the beautiful Nebraska countryside in honor of her husband Denny in his classic 57’ or 48’ on the Tour Nebraska. She also loved to cruise Brady Lake with her extended lake family.

Rene enjoyed writing touching Christmas letters, creating Shutterfly memory books, and sewing various keep sake projects including Quilt’s of Honor for area veterans.

Rene was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Laura Wilcox; in-laws Chuck and Dotty Kenning; husband Denny; brothers in-law Bryan Kenning and Jim Ourada; sister Janice and husband Wayne Lichtenwalter; sisters-in-law Donna Kenning and Ina Wilcox; nephews Jason Wilcox, Monte and Mitch Kenning, and life-long friends.

Left to carry on her story is her daughter Kelly (Shannon) Bennett of Elwood and son Tag (Sandy) Kenning of Elm Creek; Dearly loved Grandchildren Cauy Bennett (fiancé Haley Krumpus) of Elwood; Lauryn Kenning (friend Lane Shaw) of Kenesaw; Keaton, Kolton, and Kassidy Kenning; great-grand-son Easton Shaw; brother Gil Wilcox of Holdrege, sister Deloris Kenning Plummer (Paul) of Elwood; brothers-in-law Kenny (Kathy) Kenning of Gothenburg and Kevin Kenning of Lexington; sister-in-law Renita Ourada of Overton; chosen sister Ilsa (Don) Wheeler of Cedaredge, CO; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews whom she adored; extended Houlden and Oaklund family and countless close friends.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood with Pastor Aaron Witt officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, NE. Visitation with family present will be Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.