On a cold winter’s day on Jan. 28, 1942, Carol Louise Kenyon entered the world, the first child of Lauren and Helen (Blank) Kenyon. She was born at the home of her maternal grandparents, Ida and Henry Blank in Perry, Iowa.
She died Dec. 8, 2023, in Perry, Iowa.
Carol was adored by her parents, grandparents and maternal uncle Grant, all living under the same roof, before her parents eventually moved to a farm outside of Minburn.
Carol enjoyed an idyllic life as an only child for her first five years, enjoying dance and piano lessons, before their family quickly ballooned. Sister Linda came along and less then 18 months later brother Keith arrived. David, Susan and Jeff quickly followed in fewer than four years!
Gifted in athletics and the arts, Carol kept herself busy in high school. She worked on the Minburn High School’s paper as Feature Editor, enjoyed writing, participated in speech, pitched on the school’s softball team, played basketball, was a 4-H member and a member of Minburn’s Singing Wheels Skating Show — renowned throughout central Iowa.
She also began what would be a lifelong passion for photography, sharpening her skills with a cheap Brownie camera, providing treasured snapshots as the family grew to eight kids with the addition of sisters Kim and Laurie.
After graduating from Minburn High School in 1960, Carol moved to Des Moines and worked as a receptionist for Allied Mutual Insurance Co. During this time, she became engaged to her high school sweetheart, Ben Fox. The couple married on May 27, 1962, and lived in Ames while Ben completed his degree at Iowa State University.
Their Minnesota honeymoon was the start of their love of travel within the U.S. and Canada throughout their marriage.
They soon moved to their farm outside of Minburn. In 1966 Ben and Carol welcomed daughter Jennifer, followed by son Jon in 1969. Years of kids’ sports, dance recitals, 4-H and farm activities kept Carol busy.
She continued her love of photography with more sophisticated equipment, documenting family events, vacations and yearly parades.
With her kids grown, Carol returned to work at Equitable Life Insurance in Des Moines, then joined Farm Bureau Insurance in 1998, retiring in 2011.
Carol was very proud of all her grandchildren and enjoyed watching them grow and participate in activities of their own. For many years, she wrote and sent Christmas newsletters, enjoyed shopping, reading, taking road trips and going to Village Inn for breakfast with Ben.
Carol leaves behind her husband of 61 years, Ben; daughter, Jennifer Fox Ellerman of Goldfield, Iowa; son, Jon (Jodi Kimrey Jensen) Fox of Minburn; grandson, Tyler (Erin) Ellerman and their son, Orson, of Dallas Center; granddaughter, Suzanne (Ben) Neff and their son, Oliver, of Beaman, Iowa; granddaughter, Cassidy (Wes) Hammer and their daughter, Macey, of the Woodland, Texas; grandson, Ben Fox of Dallas Center; and granddaughter, Jill Fox of Correctionville.
She is also survived by six siblings, Linda (Tom) Nevitt of Perry, Keith (Margie) Kenyon of Dallas Center, Susan Kenyon Smith of Des Moines, Jeff (Cheryl) Kenyon of Perry, Kim (Larry) Goodman of Perry and Laurie (Bill) Morgan of Boone; sister-in-law, Mary Potter (Nick Portzen) Kenyon of Dubuque; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Barb Fox of Minburn. Among other survivors are several cousins and dozens of nieces and nephews located throughout the U.S.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; her brother, David Kenyon; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob, and Helen Fox; her sister-in-law, Carol Fox Beaman; and her great-nephew, Jacob Flesher.
She also leaves behind her long-lost Brownie camera and dozens of burnt bulbs, no doubt ruined years ago by one or more of her annoying siblings.
Special thanks for the care given by the Perry Lutheran Home Eden Acres Campus, where Carol resided for the past three years, and to Home Instead, especially Sandy Zagar, who provided Carol with invaluable care in her home for many years.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers/plants, donations be directed to the Perry Lutheran Home, 1300 28th St., Perry, IA, 50220, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17th, Chicago, IL 60601.
“Happy Trails to You, Carol, Until We Meet Again:”
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
