Mary Jean Kenner

Mary Jean Kenner, age 92, passed away November 27, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. She was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1923, to Arthur and Mary Vaupel, and her early life was spent in rural White County, Illinois.

When she was a child, the family moved to Chicago which they called home until she was a junior in high school when the family moved to Carbondale, Illinois so her older sister, Dorothea, could attend college at Southern Illinois University. She followed her sister to SIU two years later, where she received a B.S.E. with a double major in business and mathematics. The next four years were spent teaching high school business and math in the small southern Illinois towns of Ullen and Fairfield.

The next chapter in her life began when she returned to SIU to obtain an M.A. in mathematics. She stayed at SIU in the mathematics department where she met Morton Roy Kenner in 1953. They were married on March 14, 1954. Jean Kenner taught mathematics at Southern Illinois University, and Northwest Missouri State University, where she specialized in teaching elementary education students how to teach mathematics. She also served as a faculty advisor to the Cardinal Key Honorary Society and other sororities. Mrs. Kenner was ahead of her time as a woman teaching at the college level in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field. She co-authored numerous filmstrips for use in teaching mathematics to elementary students.

In 1964, she and Morton moved the family to Nairobi, Kenya for two years where she worked on mathematics programs for the elementary schools, and her husband established a mathematics department in the University of Nairobi as Kenya received their independence from England. This turned out to be a great adventure for everyone.

Jean and Morton retired from teaching in 1987 when they moved to Kansas City. They filled their retirement with volunteer work for the Lyric Opera and the Guatemala Project at St. Borromeo Catholic Church and other worthy causes. They both enjoyed music, reading and crossword puzzles.

She was predeceased by her husband, Morton and her sister, Dorothea. She is survived by her son, David Kenner and his wife Nancy Kenner; daughter, Gretchen Riehl and her husband David Riehl, and grandchildren Lauren Kenner, Victoria Kenner, Jack Kenner, Jonathan Riehl, Katrina Riehl and Christopher Riehl.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Guatemala project at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 900 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO 64118.

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. at the home of David and Nancy Kenner, 412 W. 56th Street, Kansas City, MO. A private graveside service will also be held.