Althea Kendall Obituary

Althea Kendall

Born: April 5, 1917

Died: October 21, 2016

Althea "Tedo" Kendall (n e Jorgeson), 99, passed away on October 21, 2016.

Althea was born on April 5, 1917 in Park Ridge, Illinois to Charles and Marjorie (n e Allen) Jorgeson. As a young girl she moved with her family to Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the town which she would call home until retirement. On November 22, 1941, she married her high school sweetheart, Ellis "Deac" Kendall. Their work took them to Panama during WWII, where they welcomed twin daughters Margaret and Karen. Upon returning to Glen Ellyn, they also welcomed son, Edward.

Althea was a devoted mother, accomplished homemaker, Girl Scouts of America troop leader and active for all her adult life in PEO. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn and served there for many years as on the library committee.

Althea graduated from Glenbard High School, earned a bachelor's degree in home economics at Purdue University where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, and a masters of library science from Rosary College.

Althea and Ellis spent their retirement dividing time between her family home in Fontana, Wisconsin, and Holmes Beach, Florida. In retirement she was an active member of Fontana Community Church and was involved with preserving the Geneva Lake environment. She shared her love of swimming, reading, gardening, fishing, cooking, and sewing with her grandchildren. When at the lake, she swam every morning until the age of 90.

Althea is survived by her children, Margaret Zielske (Ronald), Karen Kendall and Edward (Kay) Kendall; sister-in-law, Barbara Kendall Zerby; grandchildren, Catherine Neiswender (Eric), Anne Willett (Andrew), Laura Kendall Zimmermann (Geoff), Thomas Kendall (fianc e Marjorie White); Amy Jorgeson Kendall, Christine, Randall, Michael and Robert Eckman; niece, Susanne Jorgeson Brown; nephews, Eric and Kent Jorgeson, Brent Jorgeson, Frank and Tim Mitchell; and several great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marjorie and Charles, husband, Ellis; brothers, Frederick and Charles; nephews, Craig Jorgeson and David Mitchell; and son-in-law, Ronald Zielske.

The family gratefully acknowledges the care Althea received at Golden Years Retirement Village of Walworth where she moved in 2005.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Fontana Community Church, 275 Kinzie Ave., Fontana, Wisconsin 53125.

Arrangements were made by Toynton Funeral Home of Walworth, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Althea's honor to the Geneva Lake Environmental Agency, 350 Constance Blvd., Williams Bay, WI 53191, or Fontana Community Church.