Donald Kenison

Donald LeRoy Kenison passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at St. John's Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, at the age of 96.

Born April 10, 1929, in Bolan, Iowa, to Roy Henry and Althea Collette (Hummel) Kenison, he attended Barton Township Grade School and graduated from Kensett High School in Iowa. While waiting for his high school sweetheart to graduate, he worked at the packing plants in Mason City. Don married Darlene Ann Jones on July 7, 1948, in Manly, Iowa. Their love and adoration for each other, spanning nearly 77 years, not only created cherished memories that sustained them but also inspired those around them.

They began married life in Bolan, where Don worked at the general store. In 1950, they moved to Manly, where Don began his lifelong career as a switchman for the Rock Island Railroad. Always industrious, he also worked part-time as a carpenter for Fullerton Lumber Yard in Manly. Don transferred with the Rock Island to Albert Lea in 1963, to Inver Grove Heights in 1975, and then returned to Albert Lea in 1987 to enjoy retirement. They also maintained a mobile home at Big Valley RV Park in Donna, Texas, where they enjoyed 27 years of friendship, fun, and happiness during the winter months.

Don's favorite hobbies included camping, model railroading, and arts and crafts projects. He and Darlene were charter members of the Crossroads Campers in 1963 and could often be found around the campfire visiting with friends well into their 80s. His enthusiasm for railroading continued well into retirement as he built a model railroad that filled an entire room, where he and his grandchildren spent many hours playing with trains together.

His arts and crafts projects included making birds out of PVC pipe, spending many hours studying birds, then carefully forming and painting the pipe to capture their colors; his favorites were the Texas Green Jay and the Iowa Goldfinch. Don made and sold hundreds of these birds and was affectionately known in Texas as the "Bird Man." Many tried to duplicate his birds but were not successful.

Don was known for his cheerful and friendly personality. A special thank you to the staff of St. John's Lutheran Home and Mayo Hospice for their excellent care, which helped Don keep smiling.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 76 years, Darlene; sons Dennis (Patricia), Douglas (Sharon), Daniel (Debra), and Donavon (Terri); 12 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; and many loving nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Harold; sisters Viola, Dorothy, Marjorie, and Marvyl; and great-granddaughter Ella.

Services will be held Tuesday, May 27, at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 Water St., Albert Lea, MN; visitation will begin one hour prior. Interment will follow at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood, Iowa.