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Jean Annette (Campbell) Kender, 77, of Storm Lake passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Holstein after a brief illness.
Memorial services are pending. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 22 years Wayne Keith Kender; and her parents, Emlin Verne and Mary Ruth (Bennett) Campbell.
Jean is survived by her siblings: Mary Sue (David) Heikes of Kansas City, Mo.; Paul Verne (Elaine) Campbell of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and John Bennett Campbell of Storm Lake; plus many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Wayne’s siblings: brothers, Dennis Kender (Lucy) and Clark Kender (Karen); and sister Renee Bailey.
Born Jeanette Ellen Campbell on March 21, 1948, in Chicago, Ill., Jean moved with her family in 1952 to Storm Lake where she graduated in 1966 from Storm Lake High School. After high school, Jean moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where she lived for many years. On May 24, 1987, Jean married Wayne Keith Kender and they moved into their new home in Minnetonka, Minn. In 2003, Jean and Wayne relocated to Calhan, Colo., to live a retired life in the Rocky Mountains. After Wayne’s passing in 2009, Jean returned to Storm Lake, where she spent her remaining years.
Jean was friendly to all she knew, always seeking to be helpful in any way she could. She is remembered as an inventive and creative person, who navigated life with independence and perseverance. She loved animals and always had cats and birds in her home. She enjoyed collecting memorabilia from her younger days and had amassed a large collection of video tapes of programs and movies she enjoyed.
