Edward Eugene 'Gene' Kendall

EDWARD EUGENE "GENE" KENDALL

Hiawatha

Edward Eugene "Gene" Kendall passed away peacefully Aug. 19, 2021, at

the Hiawatha Care Center.

He was born Dec. 30, 1928, in Ottumwa, the son of Roy and Lela Kendall.

Ed graduated in 1946 from Ottumwa High School. On Nov. 21, 1948, he married Betty Havlik. The couple made their home in Ottumwa until 1951, when they moved to Cedar Rapids where Ed became a draftsman for Century Engineering. By 1954 the couple had built their home in Marion. It was then that Ed realized he had developed a love of building and started his own company Kendall Craft Homes. He went on to build over 135 homes in the Marion, Cedar Rapids, and Coralville areas. His final and largest project was a townhouse building in Hiawatha, where he and Betty lived and managed for 27 years until health issues made it necessary for them to make the Hiawatha Care Center their home. Ed enjoyed gardening and Iowa Hawkeyes sports. He and Betty enjoyed traveling to many different countries around world.

Ed and his wife, Betty were lifelong members of Jehovah's Witnesses. Therefore, he had a hope for the future to be resurrected to a paradise Earth where old age, sickness and death will be no more.

Ed is survived by Betty, his wife of 72 years; daughters, Deborah Kellogg and Jini Slezak (Randy) of Melbourne, Fla.; son, Kevin Kendall of Miami, Fla.; grandsons, Tony Kunz of Cedar Rapids and Nick Babcock of Satellite Beach, Fla.; granddaughter, Vanessa Kunz of Port St. John, Fla.; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

Due to COVID-19, a virtual memorial service is planned at a later date.

Online condolences may be left at www.iowacremation.com under obituaries.