Obituary for Rosalene Katherine Kessenich (Apel) Rosalene K. Kessenich, 79, of Le Mars passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2015 at All Saints Catholic Parish –St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Paul Eisele and Father John Apel, S.J. will concelebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at St. James Church. A rosary will take place at 5:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Friday. Honorary pallbearers will be Rosalene's granddaughters and her grandsons will be pallbearers.

Rosalene Katherine Apel was born on December 29, 1935, in Marcus, Iowa to John and Rosa (Dalhoff) Apel, where her father was an International Harvester dealer. She graduated from Holy Name School in Marcus in 1953. Rosalene furthered her education at Duchesne College in Omaha, Nebraska.

She was united in marriage to Stanley Kessenich on July 28, 1956, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus by Father Leo McCoy, the same priest that married Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Welk. They made their home in Union Township. Rosalene worked as a private Certified Nursing Assistant and later at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Home in Le Mars.

Rosalene was a member of St James Catholic Church in Le Mars, Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Altar Society. While a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Neptune she led the rosary. She was involved with the Le Mars CCD program for many years. Rosalene was a 4-H leader for her children, and took pride in helping her grandchildren with their 4-H and craft projects. She also enjoyed craft work including needle point, crocheting, making many afghans, and was an excellent baker.

Rosalene is survived by her husband of 59 years, Stanley of Le Mars; her nine children; 28 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren, Mary Rose (Duff) Coleman of Monticello, Iowa, and their children, Katie (Josh) Lueken, Cora, Joel (Heidi) Coleman, Ann (Chad) Kelly of Dubuque, Iowa and their children, Anna (Eric) Spoerle, Nick, Klohie, Karson, Clare Kelly (Allen Wick), Marcus Kelly, Joe (Carol) Kessenich of Le Mars, and their children Christy (Bobby) Walrod, Delaney, Allyana, Kevin (Breanne) Kessenich, Aidan, Ryan, Kelly (Stephen) Embrey, Addison, Hannah, Madeleine, Jacque (Seth) Schmitt, Blaise, Jill Kessenich, Dennis Kessenich of Le Mars, Teresa (Charles) Oetken of Le Mars and their children, Amanda (Chase) Breitbarth, Alexis, Kennedy, Reagan, Adam Oetken. Eric Oetken, Emily Oetken, Cindy (Rusty) Price of Le Mars and their children, Cayla (Andrew) Quandt, Haley Price (Daniel Langel), Wesley, Dylan Price, Ryley Price, Lisa Robins (Dave Ruden) of Le Mars and their children Larry Wayne (Jenny) Robins, Emma, Bryan Robins, Tracy Robins, Shannon Robins, Chris (Dawn) Kessenich of Kingsley, Iowa, and their children, Isabelle, Lillian, Oliver Jack, Carrie (Paul) Wilcoxon of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa and their children, Megan, Madison, Nathan: two brothers, James Bradley of Thousand Palms, California and Father John Apel, S.J. of St. Louis Missouri, a sister, Marie (Steve) Gadd of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John (Lois) Kessenich of Le Mars, Marge Schiltz of Remsen, IA, Dorothy (Larry) Ruhland of Le Mars, Phyllis (Lyle) Schroeder of Remsen, IA, MaryEllen (Leo) Stessman of Omaha, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Jack and Mae Kessenich; a sister-in-law, Margaret Bradley; and brothers-in-law, Dale Kessenich and Cletus Schiltz.

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