Jenell Lynn Stegenga

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church with Fr. Sosa officiating. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 5-7:00 PM a vigil will begin that evening at 6:30 followed by a Rosary at 7:00 PM.

Jenell was born on October 7, 1986, in Fairmont Minnesota. She was the second of four children born to Ronald Paul and Wendy Sue (Oakland) Stegenga. Jenell was raised in Jackson Minnesota where she attended school and graduated from Jackson County Central High School in 2005. She was a very active and energetic person. She played sports through school, cross country, track, softball, and basketball. She also was active in band, cheerleading, and dance. Jenell was a lifelong learner and continued her education at Minnesota State University at Mankato. She was currently working on her bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Business and was set to graduate in two months.

Her seeds of faith were planted in her heart at a young age. She received her sacraments and was confirmed all at the family’s longtime parish Good Shepard Catholic Church. Upon relocating to Abilene in 2012, Jenell and her family became active in Abilene ‘s Catholic Community through her attendance and participation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Vincent Catholic Church. She was naturally crafty and enjoyed creating things. She had a sharp eye for design and enjoyed fashion and glamour. She was the owner and founder of Tootsie’s Baby Boutique. Her bubbly personality was very infectious, and she positively impacted everyone she interacted with. She loved her family and life only got better when she became an aunt. She loved her nieces very much and treated them as her own. Her passing will leave a big void in everyone that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Albert and JoAnn Stegenga; maternal grandparents, Kenneth and Delores Oakland; uncle, Daniel Stegenga; aunt, Lori Beighley; infant nephews, Jude and Kolbe Stegenga.

She is survived by her devoted parents, Ronald and Wendy Stegenga; siblings, Cristy Stegenga and fiancé, Israel Fuentes, Matthew Stegenga (Brother Augustine Mary of the Mother of God), David Stegenga and his wife, Jessica; her nieces, Catalina, Juliana and Evangline; uncles, Jim Stegenga and wife Chris, and Steve Oakland; aunts, Kandis Nelson and her husband Tim, Bonnie Oakland; numerous cousins and other relatives and friends.