Francis Kenel

Dr. Francis Carl Kenel, age 84 of Middleton, Tennessee, formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, departed this life Thursday morning, February 6, 2014 at his home.

Mr. Kenel was born in Reese, Michigan to the late Franz Anton and Lucille Mae Rose Kenel May 28, 1929. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict and on July 30, 1955, he was united in marriage to Betty Jean Markey Kenel. Mrs. Kenel passed away December 20, 2008. He lived 40 years in Maryland before moving to Hardeman County, Tennessee in 2011.

He worked as an Industrial Enigneer in Traffic Safety and was the National Director of the American Automobile Association for Highway and Traffic Safety. He was a member of the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and taught at the University of Maryland at College Park, Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois and Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. He also worked with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association. He was a Consultant for Brazil and Portugal, engineering their road systems, and traveled all over the United States as a Police Pursuit Instructor.

Along with his involvement with various associations for driver education, he enjoyed researching genealogy and loved reading about history. His brother was lost during World War II, which made the war of particular interest to him. He was also very good about staying in touch with his extended family.

He was a member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Ripley, Mississippi, where his funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 22, 2014 with Father Albeenreddy Vatti officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM before the service. Shackelford Funeral Directors of Bolivar, Tennessee will provide the professional service.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM March 15, 2014 at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home in Silver Spring, Maryland with Father Kevin Cusick officiating, and an interment service will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, where his wife is buried.

Mr. Kenel is survived by two daughters, Susan Elizabeth Davis (Bryan) of Middleton, TN, and Linda Ann Laudadio (Paolo) of Walnut, MS; three sons, Steven Michael Kenel (Pamela) of Olney, MD, Gregory John Kenel (Julie) of Clarksburg, MD, and Keith Anthony Kenel (Patricia) of Cedar Rapids, IA; a brother, Albert Jerome Kenel of Saginaw, MI; a sister-in-law, Jean Kenel of Saginaw, MI; nineteen grandchildren, James Davis, Josiah Davis, Arianna Davis Thurow, Caleb Davis, Amanda Davis, Rachel Davis, Hannah Davis, Nicolas Laudadio, Anthony Laudadio, Marisa Laudadio, Annalisa Laudadio, Daniel Laudadio, Courtney Kenel, Philip Kenel, Jennifer Kenel, Justin Kenel, Kelsey Kenel, Kevin Kenel and Sean Kenel; and four great-grandchildren, Zachary Thurow, Gabriel Thurow, Madelynn Davis and Samantha Davis.

In addition to his wife of 53 years and his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Anton Kenel, Daniel Kenel, William Kenel and John Kenel; and two sisters, Lucille Boensch and Barbara Kenel.

Donations made in memory of Mr. Kenel may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate).