J. Kenneth Schnell, age 92 of Kiel died peacefully in his home on Monday morning, November 6, 2023.  Ken was born in his family's farm home on May 6, 1931, to the late Joseph and Clara (Schneider) Schnell.  He attended SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Grade School.  On August 16, 1951 Ken married Virginia Escher at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, New Holstein.  They moved to Mesa Arizona where they were seasonal farm help, picking oranges and cotton.  Together they returned to Kiel in 1954, renting an apartment until they bought their farm in 1956.  Ken was a proud farmer.  From 1956-1996, he was a dairy farmer and from then on he was a cash crop farmer, still getting on a tractor himself until two years ago.  Even in his last days, he enjoyed looking out the window at the land that he loved.  Ken worked at Polar Ware Co. in Sheboygan for many years, retiring in 1996.

In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with family and friends to beautiful places including Europe, Alaska, Utah, California, Hawaii, Montana and the International Peace Gardens.  His most favorite road trip destinations were to Sedona and Oatman Arizona where he returned yearly for a couple of decades.  In the last few years, he enjoyed watching and feeding birds, day trips around Wisconsin and first Thursday of the month dinners with siblings and family. Ken was a devoted Catholic, and a lifetime member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Richard (Elizabeth) Schnell, Nancy Schnell Rivera, Rodney (Lori) Schnell, Lisa Schnell, and Bonnie (Andrew) Manthey; grandchildren: Connie Schnell Van Ells and her children Ryan and Alec, Eric (Shawn O'Neil) Schnell, Claire and Sarah Hanel, and Isaiah, Hannah, Caleb, Abigail, and Samuel Manthey; brother: Joe (Nancy) Schnell, and sister: Mary Propson. Ken is further survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Bernice Schnell, Mary Schnell, Fred (Dorothy) Escher, Shirley (Daniel) Lecher, Linda Escher, Charles Wolfgram and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and his feline companion Violet.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 37 years, Virginia Escher Schnell; son: Brian Schnell, special long time friend: Dorothy Huberty, brothers: Robert and Eugene Schnell as well as several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Ken will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, November 10, 2023 at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Kiel with burial to follow at the parish cemetery.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the church with an open casket from 9:00AM until 9:30AM when the casket will be closed.  The visitation will continue until 10:45AM when brief family rites will be held.

Thank you to family, friends, and caregivers for prayers and visits last year.  A special thank you to his kind and compassionate caregivers Amber, and from Calumet County Hospice especially Anna, Julie, Amanda and Barb.