McKenna, Earlene Frances

Earlene Frances McKenna, 59, died peacefully at her home after a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with the Rev. Ardel Barta as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Vinton. A rosary service will begin at 2:30 p.m. followed by a visitation from 3 to 8 p.m. and a Scripture service at 8 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton.

Earlene was born Oct. 29, 1950, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Earl and Agnes Meier Youngblut. Earlene attended St. Mary's of Mount Carmel School in Eagle Center; Don Bosco High School, Gilbertville; and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in elementary education.

On Nov. 20, 1971, she married William R. McKenna at St. Mary's of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Eagle Center. The couple began farming near Hudson and moved to a farm west of Vinton on Jan. 1, 1974. They farmed and sold seed west of Vinton until her husband's death. Earlene was a substitute teacher in the Vinton school district at various times throughout the years. She most recently worked as a customer service representative at Wilson-Hite Insurance from 2003 until the present.

Earlene was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton where she was active in the Altar and Rosary Society. She was a past 4-H leader of the Jackson 4-Leaf Clovers and was a blood drive coordinator for the American Red Cross. She enjoyed spending time with family, friends and neighbors. Her greatest joy came in playing with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her parents; her six children, Charlie (Kim) McKenna and their children, Max, Madeline and Meredith of Clear Lake, Tracy (Jay) Severtsgaard and their children, Tyler and Grant of La Porte City, Dan (Brie) McKenna and their children, Noel and Wesley of Vinton, Dawn (Karl) Janssen and their children, Carly and Samuel of Van Horne, John (Nichole) McKenna and their children Clayton and William of Vinton, and Katie (Brian) Hopper of Iowa City; nine siblings, Teresa (Jim) Schmitz of Gilbertville, Rita (Craig) Rogers of Eveleth, Minn., Leonard (Linda) Youngblut of Buckingham, Mary Wilson of Winter Park, Fla., Nancy Newton of La Porte City, Harold (Amy) Youngblut of Waterloo, Marlys (Ted) Baebenroth of Minneapolis, Minn., Lisa (Mark) Althof of Dysart, and Anita Youngblut (Rick Scholz) of Denver, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews.

Earlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bill on Nov. 7, 2001; two brothers, Peter and Eric Youngblut; brothers-in-law, Joel Newton and Ron Schmitz; and father-in-law, Robert McKenna.

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Earlene and her family. Condolences may be left at