West Hartford, VT – Wendell E. Kenison, Sr., 93, died Wednesday, June 19, 2024, with dignity and gratitude, surrounded with love from family and friends, following a brief stay at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, NH.

Wendell was born July 27, 1930, at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH, to Glenn and Beatrice (White) Kenison, the oldest son of ten children. He was a true Vermonter through and through. Wendell grew up working on various farms with his father in Strafford, Sharon, North Pomfret, and West Hartford. He left school at an early age to begin working on his own, cutting firewood in local forests and later worked at Windsor County Feed and Supply in South Royalton, the Hartford Woolen Mill, Cross Company in Hartford, and the railroad out of White River Jct. He began his career as a painter at the Woodstock Resort, which led him to start his own painting and papering business. After his children were older, his wife joined him in the business, and they worked together for many years.

Wendell was in the US Army from 1952 until 1954. His home base was Fort Bragg, NC with 505 CBR Maintenance, traveling the 3rd Army area. He became an instructor in Chemical Biological Radiological Warfare.

While on leave from the army, he was married to Theresa Livingston in White River Jct. on December 27, 1953. They purchased a home in West Hartford in 1956, where they raised their family of five children and have lived since. Mrs. Kenison died August 11, 2019.

Wendell loved hunting and fishing in the hills of Vermont, and he especially enjoyed spending time at his camp in Canaan, VT, which he and his wife built together.

The family would like to thank the staff at DHMC and the Jack Byrne Center for their exceptional care and allowing so many family and friends to visit Wendell to express their love to a great man. Wendell constantly thanked everyone and told them he loved them.

He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Theresa; sisters, Phyllis Renner, Marilyn Paronto and Rebecca Maxwell; brothers, Bradley and Glenn Kenison as well as an infant brother, Norman Kenison.

He leaves his five children, Penni Dawson, Judy Kenison, Wanda Kenison,
Wendell Kenison, Jr. and his wife Joyce, and Herbert Kenison; four grandchildren, Amber Kenison, Derek Kenison and his wife Sophie, Garrett Kenison, Jason Dawson and his wife Kerry; eight great-grandchildren; brothers, Stanley Kenison, Marshall Kenison, and Rodney Kenison as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

A private committal service will be held in the West Hartford Cemetery at the convenience of the family.  A Celebration of life for family and friends will be held at a time to be announced at a later date.

Condolences to Wendell's family may be made in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com