Nancy June Kaenel

Nancy J. Kaenel, age 82, of Willmar, passed away Wednesday, February 4, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Thursday. www.petersonbrothers.com

Nancy was born on September 13, 1943, in Hagerstown, Maryland, the daughter of Maurice and Evelyn (Rude) Ellestad. She grew up in the Willmar community and graduated from Willmar High School in 1961. In 1962, Nancy was united in marriage to Donald Bruhn. They made their home in Willmar and to this union they were blessed with four children, Jeffrey, Tammie, Twyla and Jason. Besides being a homemaker, Nancy worked in food service at the Willmar State Hospital and Rice Memorial Hospital. In 1992, Donald passed away.

On August 15, 1987, Nancy was married to Lester "Les" Kaenel. They lived in Willmar briefly prior to Davenport, Nebraska, where they owned and operated Chief's Mess Bar & Grill. In 2003, they returned to Willmar and in 2022, Les passed away. Nancy was most recently employed at Cash Wise Foods in Willmar.

Nancy was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church and was an extremely active member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary Post #1639 in Willmar. Nancy enjoyed attending dirt track races (especially at KRA), cooking, camping, dogs, long car rides on Sunday afternoons and being with her family and friends.

She is survived by her four children, Jeff (and Tiffany) Bruhn of Smithland, KY., Tammie (and Jeff) Paulson of Atwater, Twyla (and Dave) Scofield of Litchfield and Jason (and Beth) Bruhn of Willmar; a step-son, Ron Kaenel of Willmar; thirteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also surviving is a step daughter-in-law, Lisa Kaenel of Willmar; and one brother, Michael (and Mary Ann) Ellestad of Kearney, NE.; besides other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by both of her husbands, Don Bruhn and Les Kaenel; two sisters, Donna and Mary; and a son-in-law, Roger Bauch.