Gilmar Darwin Kenner

Gilmar Darwin Kenner, 83, a life long resident of Devils Lake, ND died on Friday evening, February 25, 2005 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Darwin will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Harold Ovre will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 8:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and then at the church beginning at 3:00 p.m. Serving as Pallbearers will be Darwin’s Grandsons, Todd Miller, Brian Miller, Derek Bosch, Kelly Bosch, Lee Bosch and Ryan Cossette. Music will be provided by Debbie Foughty, Soloist and Lynda Pearson, Organist. Gilmar Darwin Kenner was born on June 16, 1921 in Devils Lake, ND the son of George and Magda (Kulland) Kenner. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. After graduating from Devils Lake Central High School in 1939 he attended Devils Lake Junior College and was a charter member. On October 3, 1942 he entered the United States Army and served his country during World War II. As a Sergeant, with Company A 50th Engineers Division he engaged in the Aleutian Campaign and the Marshall Island Campaign. On November 25, 1944 Darwin received an honorable medical discharge. He was also awarded the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars. Darwin was united in marriage to Ruth S. Dokken from Towner, ND on November 22, 1950 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. They established their home in rural Devils Lake where they farmed through the years. In later years, Darwin worked in sales for KZZY Radio. Darwin was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the Devils Lake VFW, American Legion, and Odd Fellows Lodge and also sang with “The Diplomats”, a local men’s choir. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ruth Children and their spouses: Daria and Jerry Miller, Devils Lake Karla and John Cossette, Klamath Falls, Oregon Lanny and Lenora Kenner, Bismarck, ND Corry and Kristin Kenner, Devils Lake Melissa and Mark Soderquist, Minneapolis, Minnesota Yvonne and Doug Bonfield, Klamath Falls, Oregon Jeff and Shelley Kenner, Devils Lake Deanna Kenner, Devils Lake, ND Special Friends, Myron and Paulette Bosch, Devils Lake Twenty-two Grandchildren Eleven Great Grandchildren Many Nieces and Nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jan Bosch; sisters, Lily Kenner, Gerda Kenner, Esther Hanson and Alpha Jager; brothers, Arthur, Gilmar, Walter, Harold and Lloyd Kenner.