Cetha Gail (Kestel) Henrich

Cetha Gail Henrich, 64, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024 at Unity Point Health- St. Luke's of Sioux City, after a very brief, unexpected illness.  Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of her life which will be held at Sunrise Pointe Golf Course in Storm Lake on Saturday, April 27 from 1-4pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Cetha was born April 7, 1959 in Storm Lake and was the youngest of five children born to Gene and Doreen Kestel of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Cetha attended St. Mary’s School and graduated in 1977. Shortly after graduating she married Michael Henrich of Newell, Iowa. They lived and farmed in Newell, where they had three children. Early in the marriage the family moved to the mountain suburb Wilderness Ranch, outside Boise, Idaho, where she acquired her love of mountain life. She often loaded the three kids in the car and set off for back road adventures. She had a built-in compass and no matter how far in the middle of nowhere she ventured she was never lost.

After her divorce in 1990, she found herself back in Storm Lake, where she met the love of her life, Jeff Mendenhall, and gained a step-son. Cetha completed her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 1994. She worked as a Nurse at Methodist Manor Retirement Center for a short time before joining the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center team. She loved to travel and explore back roads, new places, and hidden wonders. She and Jeff purchased a cabin near Florissant, Colorado that she visited often. She enjoyed the mountains, hiking, rock hunting, crocheting, traveling, gardening and watching low quality horror movies.  She had an abiding love of all manner of animals, and over the years owned numerous dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, reptiles, and others.

She retired from nursing in 2021, and while she remained in Storm Lake, she continued to visit Colorado as often as possible. She continued to pursue her hobbies, including visiting children and grandchildren throughout all corners of the country and abroad.  

Those left to cherish her memory include husband, Jeff Mendenhall; children, Tracey (Michael) Fogarty, Carlie (Chris) Weidner, Jace (Mandy) Henrich, Aaron (Sarah) Mendenhall; grandchildren, Hannah, Isla, Novalyn, Axel, Adelynn, Ayden, Jairden, Aiden and Aria; sisters, Cynthia Waller (Leonard Schupp), Elaine Kennedy and Laurel Walsh; brother, Kevin Kestel (Karen); and dogs Layla and Murray.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gene and Doreen Kestel.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her name to the Lake Animal Hospital in support of their animal shelter. Donations can be collected at her celebration or sent directly to the Shelter.

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