Danny Lee Kenobbie

Danny Lee Kenobbie passed into the arms of Jesus on Monday, January 23, 2023 at the age of 79. Dan battled pneumonia, heart complications and ARDS for two weeks at Baylor Scott and White hospital in Waco, TX. He was a man of faith and believed in Jesus’ grace and salvation. He fought for his life in his last days, but in the end, his Lord and Savior called him home.

The Georgia celebration of Dan’s life will be at First Baptist Church Historical Sanctuary in Newnan, Georgia on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 2 pm. A visitation before the service will begin at 1pm.

The Minnesota Celebration of Life will be after the Sunday Service at the Log Church in Crosslake, Minnesota on Sunday, July 2, 2023. The family will receive guests following the memorial.

The Iowa celebration will be held at First Baptist Church in Spencer, Iowa on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 10:30 am. A graveside service and meal will take place after the service.

Dan was born on February 7, 1943, in Pierre, South Dakota to Bernerd and Tressie (Cross) Kenobbie, brother to Joyce, Blaine (Pete), Carolyn and Lyle. During his childhood, he lived in South Dakota and later, in Greenville, Iowa. He met the love of his life, Karen Welle, in junior high. They both graduated from Clay Central High School in Royal, Iowa and were happily married on August 18,1963 in Spencer, Iowa. In 1962, he traveled 27 days on an adventurous motorcycle trip with his best friend, Jerry Mills, to Alaska and back. He grew to love road construction working with Glenn Welle and eventually started his own business, Dan Kenobbie Construction. Dan and Karen had two sons, Kurtis and Kelvin, and one daughter, Kari. They lived in Reinbeck and Iowa Falls before settling down on the Welle family farm in Greenville, Iowa. In 1987, they moved to Newnan, Georgia to grow his construction business. They enjoyed 42 years of marriage before Karen went to heaven in 2005. Dan did not like living alone and God blessed him with another wife, Judy Maas from Crosslake, Minnesota. They became a part of each other’s established lives and families in Georgia and Minnesota. He was an active member of The Log Church in Crosslake and First Baptist Church in Newnan. After 16 years of marriage, Judy eventually lost her battle with cancer, and Dan moved back to Georgia to tinker on all his projects in the shop.

Dan took joy and pride in his work to provide for his family.  Dan was very kind, wise, knowledgeable, and genuine. There was nothing he could not figure out, either on his own or from a connection he had made during his lifetime. What sets Dan apart is his genuineness. He was welcoming, warm and very pleasant to be around. He was gracious, encouraging, supportive and had a way to make the room he occupied a warmer and a more welcoming place. He was a man’s man who knew no stranger and made the people who “don’t matter” feel special. He is a lasting example of what a good man should aspire to be. He was proud of his family and enjoyed bragging about them to others, praising their strengths and accomplishments. He simply was a man who loved without limits! He loved working on his projects and seeing the possibilities of what others might not be able to imagine. He was very crafty and worked very hard for his family. When referring to his work, he would say, “I’m a big kid who gets to play in the dirt his whole life!” While he loved the work he did, fishing with his grandkids, sharing sweets, and enjoying ice cream were some of his favorite pastimes.

Dan is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mary (Kurtis, d. 2022), and grandsons, Miles (Megan) and Grahm (Jemma); his son, Kelvin (Yun), and grandson, William; and his daughter, Kari Kenobbie-Espin (Rick), and grandchildren Chip (Ashlyn) and Karah; Dan’s second wife’s (Judy) son, John Maas (Lindsey), and their two children, Breanna and Max; sister, Joyce (Stan) Garten; sister, Carolyn Beasley; and brother, Lyle (Linda) Kenobbie; a multitude of nieces, nephews, and in-laws that loved him dearly.

He was predeceased in death by his parents, Bernerd and Tressie (Cross) Kenobbie; his first wife, Karen (Welle) Kenobbie; his second wife, Judy (Maas) Kenobbie; his brother with his wife, Pete and Bev Kenobbie; and his son, Kurtis Kenobbie.

The family welcomes anyone who wishes to be there to share their stories and love with them.