Lorene Fengel

Lorene Faye Fengel, 93, passed away Monday, September 15th, at Village Manor in Abilene, Kansas. She was born November 6th, 1931 in Oak Hill, the daughter of Larry and Marguerite (Rickely) Lash. Growing up in the Oakhill area, Lorene attended school at Union School and Oak Hill through her grade school years. Her high school days were spent in Longford High School graduating with the class of 1949. She lived in the Oakhill area until moving to Frontier Estate in Abilene and then to Village Manor.

On April 6, 1952, Lorene married Carl Knuth Fengel, Jr. To this union 3 children were born: Michael Louis, Janis Marie and Janet Suzanne. All of their married life was spent on the Fengel farm east of Oakhill.

Right out of high school Lorene lived in Abilene with her Lash grandparents working as a public typist for United Utilities. In the early 60's Jr. and Lorene bought the grocery store in Oakhill. Fengel Grocery and Creamery operated for several years. It was always the Saturday night hangout. Later she worked for ADM as a bookkeeper at Longford Grain.

Lorene loved her grandchildren: Mandy, Knuth and Katie Fengel; Kellie and Jenny Jackson; and Whitney and Emily Hedden. They lovingly called her granny. She enjoyed gardening and canning her own fruits and vegetables. Flowers, cooking and crocheting were also things she loved to do.

As a baby Lorene was baptized in the Oakhill Presbyterian Church, joining the church at the age of 13. She taught Sunday school, helped at Bible school, was a session member and was moderator of PW for several years. In 1952 she was married in this church. All of her children were baptized in the church and one daughter was married in the church. So you can see why the Oakhill church is so special to her. She loved her church family.

Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, Jr. her parents; a great-grandson, Tanner Jefferis; 2 sisters-in-law, Jean Trumble and Mary Ann Myer; 2 brothers-in-law, James (Jimmy) Trumble and James Myer; and her childhood "like a sister" forever friend, Betty Spellman She is survived by 2 daughters, Janis and husband Ron Jackson of Oakhill , Janet and husband Don Hedden of Abilene; a son, Michael and wife Jeanie of Clay Center; 7 grandchildren Mandy and husband Nate Elzinga, Knuth and wife Jamie Fengel, Katie and husband Clint Knitter, Kellie Jackson and Jared Hall, Jenny and husband Tanner Cannizzo,

Whitney and husband Bobbie Gilbert and Emily and husband Konnor Cool; 14 great-grandchildren Maci and Alec Jefferis, Chloe and husband Ethan Studt, Alisha Waite, Sierra Fengel, Brendon and Trent Knitter, Greyson Cannizzo, Braxton, Kayson, and Hadley Gilbert, Everly Cool, Zach and wife Megan Elzinga and Amira Elzinga: 2 great-great grandchildren Jett Elzinga and Jessie Studt: many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She will be missed, but we know she is with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and we eagerly await the day we will see her again.

The family would like to thank you all for being here to celebrate the life of this most special mother and granny.

Graveside memorial services will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the Rose Meron Cemetery in Oak Hill, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak Hill Presbyterian Church and can be sent in care of the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home.