Lorna Kenis

Lorna Gemetha (Jimmie) Kenis, of Albert Lea, died on January 12, 2014.
Jimmie was born on September 30, 1923, in Comanche, Texas, the youngest child of George Franklin and Jessie Mary Ann (King) Black. She graduated from Hasse High School, Hasse, TX in 1941.  She worked at Montgomery Ward in Fort Worth, TX until she met the love of her life on Christmas Eve 1943.
On June 3, 1944 she married Charles L. Kenis at the County Courthouse in Weatherford, Texas. After a trip to tell her family the news, she and Charles boarded a train to start their life together in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  She worked at American Gas Co. in Albert Lea for a few years. She had a unique gift to recognize and appreciate the talents in others and to make them feel loved and lifted by her presence. Her generous heart filled her home with love, laughter, fun, family and friends, including an attitude that there was always room for one more. She loved sports and was a member of two Texas High School Championship Basketball teams. Those seated in the stands near her were often at risk as she passionately watched her grandchildren participate in sports.  One of her greatest joys was providing winter clothing for needy students.  She leaves her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and her “collected” children with the knowledge that they were truly loved, appreciated and very important in her life.
She is survived by her admiring children Michael (Peg) Kenis, Vicki (Steve) Westrum and Jenifer (Bob) Prince and former daughters-in-law Rebecca (Martin) Norwood and Karen (Joe) Roberts; her adored grandchildren Joe (Mary Beth) Kenis, Paul (Kristi) Kenis, Brian (Chrissy) Kenis and Rachel Kenis, Brad (Carrie) Westrum, Mark (Kelly) Westrum, Brett (Megan) Westrum, Jillyse (Matt) Wangerin, Sam Prince and Sarah (Brandon) Oelkers; her much doted upon great-grandchildren, Jason and Katie Sanden, Alex, Riley, Taylor, Joey, Karter, Kendall, Kellan, Hudson Kenis and Kaden, Tanner, Colin, Camryn, Drew, Brooklyn Westrum and Ian Wangerin. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Charlotte (Irv) Nudell, Edina MN. She will also be missed by a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Charles, her adored son Gregory (Lois) Kenis and her special grandchildren Leah, David and Amy Kenis.  Three brothers, Robert Cecil (Marion), Hillman (Ethel) and Herbert Black and two sisters, Lamoine (Haskle) Lee and Lottie Denman,
The family will be eternally grateful for the care, love and kindness shown to Jimmie by the staff at Caring Angels, Mayo Hospice Albert Lea and The Good Samaritan Home. God is working through you!
Please join her family in a Celebration of Jimmie’s Life and the extraordinary gift she was to each of us, at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home, 1415 Hwy 13 N, Albert Lea, MN, 56007 on, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. There will be an Open House from 4:00-5:00pm, with a short program immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jimmie’s memory may be made to the YMCA or the Albert Lea Chapter of Youth for Christ.