Obit Janice R. Kenner-95 of Hebron, NE

Kroll Funeral Home Hebron, NE 402-768-6165 

Janice Marilyn Ryman was born on June 26, 1928, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska and died at Blue Valley Lutheran Home in Hebron, Nebraska on August 28, 2023, at the age of 95. Janice was the daughter of Floyd W Ryman and Pauline Moore Ryman.

Her father, who was a dentist and avid aviator, died in a plane accident when Janice had just turned six years old. Janice lived with her Great Aunt Macie and Uncle Earl Yeast from 1937 to 1939 in Tecumseh while her mother returned to college. From 1939 to 1941 Janice, her brother Dick, and her mother, Pauline, lived in Rochester New York. Jan completed 5th, 6th, and 7th Grades in Rochester before moving back to Lincoln in 1941. Jan attended Irving Junior High School and Lincoln High School where she graduated in the class of 1946. Janice attended Camp Lake Hubert in Minnesota during her youth and teenage years. She was an expert rifleman and eventually became the director of the rifle range at the camp along with being a counselor for a few years.

Janice pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at UNL and was a proud member of the Kappas much to her mother’s chagrin! Jan’s roommate in college, Ann McClymont, was brother to a recent UNL graduate who was lonely working down at the bank in Hebron.

A blind date originating at the Corn Popper in Lincoln set the stage for their lives. Janice married James Rupert Kenner Jr. on August 12, 1950, in Tecumseh, Nebraska. In 1951 Jim was recalled into the United States Navy and Jan and their young daughter, Mary were, able to move to Hawaii for two years. In 1953 Mike was born in Honolulu, and just a few weeks before their return to Hebron, they learned their home had been destroyed in the tornado.

Jane was born in 1957 and Pat arrived in 1960 in their home on the dead end at 1140 Olive. Janice and her Lincoln friend, Kathy Svoboda, operated a nursery school in their house for several years. Jan was an active Girl Scout Leader and active in PEO and the DW club. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church in Hebron. In 1968 Janice was an early female member of the Hebron School Board during the time of the redistricting of Belvidere and Gilead districts, which was a challenging time. Janice took flight instructions to fly with Jim and completed her solo flights. After her flight instructor died in an aviation accident, she didn’t pursue her certifications. In 1970 Janice returned to UNL to become an accomplished potter, an interest she carried into a small business for many years.

Janice was an expert seamstress, quilter, spinner, weaver, painter and baker. She was very artistically talented and has quietly inspired many family members and friends in the pursuit of their artistic talents over the years. Janice also taught Kindergarten filling in for Mrs. Woolston for a few semesters. Jan was interested in local history and especially women’s suffrage. She was involved with the Thayer County Historical Society and enjoyed time with her friends in that group.

Jan was a life long loyal Husker football fan sitting at games in the knothole section at age 5 to her final games attending at age 93 making a Lincoln paper story and the big screen at the stadium several times.

Jim and Jan had returned to the Northern woods and lakes of Minnesota for their family vacation since 1961. In 1994 Jim and Jan built a home near Crosslake MN where they enjoyed their friends and neighbors as well as Presbyterian Church and friends in Crosslake for many years.

Janice is preceded in death by her parents and brother Richard Ryman.

She is survived by her husband Jim Kenner of Hebron, NE, four children: Mary Glover (Bill) of Phoenix AZ, J. Michael Kenner of Duck Creek Village UT, Jane Smith (Mike) of Bailey CO and Patrick (Carlece) of Hebron, NE, 11 grandchildren: Sarah Balluff (Rich) of Mesa AZ, Astraea Rohloff (Jon) of Buckeye AZ, Elizabeth Van Orden (Kolby) of Salt Lake City, UT, Carter Kenner of Jackson Hole WY, Cassandra Rust (Tyler) of Littleton CO, Anthony Smith (Nino) of Tilibisi, Republic of Georgia, David Pritchett (Amy) of Durango CO, Rhiannon Svitak (Casey) of Martell, NE, Andrea Richardson (Jeremy) of Storm Lake, IA, Rebecca Schure (Mike) of Elkhorn NE, Caleb Kenner (Abby) of Gretna NE; 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. 22 Great grand children: Zoe Baker, Emily Richael, Grace Rohloff, Jonathan Rohloff III, Faith Rohloff, Gabriella Rust, Bennett Rust, Kenner Svitak, Patton Svitak, Eisenhower Svitak, Rylan Richardson, Braxton Richardson, Ivy Schure, Owen Schure, Josie Schure, Emersyn Kenner, Brayah Kenner, Indie Kenner, Monroe Kenner, Emma Pritchett, Jack Pritchett 1 great great grand child: Ellen Mae Baker, and many friends in Lincoln, Crosslake and Thayer County.

Memorial services will be held Monday, September 18, 2023 at Presbyterian Church in Hebron at 11:00 AM. Officiants Gail and Sylvia Cross. Organist Dave Cording, congregational hymns; "I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry", and "Love Divine, All Love Excelling" and Carlece Kenner solo "Song of Farewell".  Family burial will take place at 10:00 AM in the Hebron City Cemetery. Book signing will be Sunday with family greeting friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Kroll Funeral Home in Hebron, condolences at www.krollfh.com Kroll Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.