Alma Kenjura

Alma Kenjura, age 93, a fourth generation resident of Washington County, passed away at her residence with family at her side on Thursday April 18, 2019. Funeral service will be held at 10 am on Tuesday April 23, 2019 at St Mary's Catholic Church officiated by Rev David Leibham- assisted by Monsignor Benedict Zientek, Rev Ernesto Elizondo, and Rev Joseph Kim. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Monday at Memorial Oaks Chapel.

Alma was born February 13, 1926 in the Cedar Hill community to Otto and Meta Loesch as one of 10 children (2 brothers and 7 sisters). She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. She was married to Charlie Kenjura in Klamath Falls, Oregon while Charlie was serving in the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge they moved back to Brenham, where Alma became a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and has remained a member for the past 72 years. She was a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women, Ladies Altar Society, Finance Committee, coordinator of the funeral luncheons and was honored to serve as an Eucharistic Minister.

Her first career was with Stanley Home Products, where she was one of the top sales persons in the region for many years. Later she would become the manager of the Sands and the Coach Light Motel until her retirement in 1989. During this time she also served as bookkeeper for Kenjura Exxon, until Charlie's retirement in 1995.

Alma was an outstanding cook along with her 7 sisters and in 1999 they published their 1st cookbook filled with family recipes--a second edition has recently been published and has become very popular.

Many of these recipes have been prepared and tasted by her family every Sunday at lunch for over 70 years. Sunday lunch was an event not to be missed which provided quality family time for everyone, along with great tasting food and desserts. Her claim to fame was her vegetable beef soup along with her homemade dumplings, that served as an excellent starter for the meal. Her favorite dessert was her Red Velvet cake of which she prepared hundreds that were also used as an auction item for various fundraisers for the church. Gardening was also a serious hobby of hers as each spring she and Charlie would spend many hours making sure the various crops planted would produce its maximum. In August of 2017, her life took a dramatic turn. While in her kitchen (where else) she suffered a fall that resulted in a fractured hip that has caused her to be wheelchair bound. This has been a severe loss to her being an independent person. Alma was a compassionate and caring person. In her spare time she would visit those in a nursing home or those that were home bound. If she were not able to personally visit, ,then you could be rest assured that a greeting card was being sent their way. She would have a personal note inside, with her exceptional handwriting that she contributed to her elementary school days at Cedar Hill School.

She will definitely be missed by all who knew her as she touched the lives of many.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charlie, son Mickey Kenjura ,her parents Otto and Meta Loesch, brothers Melvin and Arnold Loesch, sisters Elsie Tegeler, Norma Meschewitz,and Selma Wellmann, along with sisters- in- law Bonnie and Lydia Loesch ,brother- in- law Raymond Tegeler, Jim Buchanan ,Roy Lorenz, Louis Meschewitz , Robert Wellmann, Clarence Lohmeyer, Truman Flynt and Charlie Schroeder.

Surviving family members include her son Atwood and wife Marilyn, a very special daughter-in-law Vicky Kenjura, grandchildren Kathryn Kenjura Hall and husband Casey, Matt Kenjura and wife Catherine, Lance Williams and wife Tammy, Jennifer Gajeske and husband Charlie, Jessica Kettler and husband Robert, and step-grandchildren Eric and Connie Appelt, Amy and Jimmy Wallingford, Carrie and Andy Richardson, and her great grandchildren Charlie, John, Caroline, Mary, Jake, Madison, Michael and step-great grandchildren Cole, Ashlyn, Abby, Caroline, Luke, Allie, Courtney & Dustin.

Also surviving are her four sisters- Hilda Lorenz, Rose Lee Lohmeyer, Ella Flynt, and Edna Schroeder with brother-in-law and sister-in-law Paul and Mary Lou Kenjura along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Matt Kenjura, Lance Williams, Charlie Gajeske, Robert Kettler, Michael Kettler, and Casey Hall.

A special thanks to her caregivers Carolyn Fielder, Mary Garrett, Tawanda Williams, Delores Jones, Cynthia Williams-Brown, Gaby Lechuga, and especially her niece Judy Dallmeyer.

Services will be officiated by Rev David Leibham- assisted by Monsignor Benedict Zientek, Rev Ernesto Elizondo, and Rev Joseph Kim.

Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the St Mary's Parish Council of Catholic Women.

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