Mother shares memories of couple killed while snowmobiling
By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times | Posted: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 12:00 am
Nathan and Jennifer Kender were up north with their family to celebrate the new year. On Saturday morning they left his family's home in Woodruff to go for a snowmobile ride.
They never came home.
"My husband went to take a ride to meet them in town," said Sue Kender, Nathan Kender's mom. "He saw the ambulances on the road."
After waiting several hours, their worst fear was confirmed. The young couple had been involved in a crash and had both died.
Just starting out
Nathan and Jennifer, both 26, were married in September of 2007. They had known each other for about five years and began dating. Her parents live just down the road from his parents in Oak Creek.
In April the couple bought a house on Newman Road in Caledonia.
"They were fixing it up and having fun doing that," Sue Kender said. "It was the perfect place for them. They had good neighbors and a big yard. They were two wonderful kids who were just starting out."
Jennifer had just become a nurse in May, her mother-in-law said. She was working at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee.
Nathan was in occupational safety with Platt Construction in Franklin. Sue Kender said they just finished working on the Potawatomi Bingo Casino project.
A shared love of the outdoors
One of Nathan and Jennifer's shared interests was the outdoors. "They loved to fish," Sue Kender said. "They loved to go up north. He was a huge hunter."
Both of their families spent time in northern Wisconsin. "We've been going up there since (Nathan) was born," Sue Kender said.
She and her husband now own a home in Woodruff, where the whole family had gathered over the weekend to celebrate New Year's. "Everyone was up there," Sue Kender said. "His grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends. We had a wonderful weekend."
But that changed Saturday morning.
Nathan and Jennifer decided to go for a ride at 9:30 a.m., his mom said.
According to DNR Warden Tim Ebert, the couple was riding in Arbor Vitae on a trail just north of Woodruff when their sled collided with another snowmobile around 10 a.m. The driver of the other snowmobile, Scott J. Sumoski, 39, of South Elgin, Ill., also died in the crash.
Ebert could not give specific details on the crash, as it is still under investigation, he said.
Sue Kender said they are still waiting to find out what happened.
"You just don't think it's ever going to happen to you," she said. "They were the two most careful people in the world."
A memorial serviceDespite the horrible tragedy of losing her son and daughter-in-law, Sue Kender said Wednesday that she is very grateful for the love that so many people have shown them over the past few days.
"We have a lot of support," she said. "People have been stopping over and bringing food."
She is thankful for those who have offered to help and support their family.
Nathan is survived by his parents, John and Sue Kender, his brother Jake, and grandparents Howard and Lois Charney and Joseph (Helen) Kender.
Jennifer is survived by her parents Brian and Patty Pallen, her sister Amy Lynn and grandparents Robert and Judy Gratz.
Both Nathan and Jennifer are also survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Friends and family of the Kenders are invited to a memorial gathering for them from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Home, 9200 S. 27th St. in Oak Creek, to be followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m.