Delores Kuenning Obituary

Delores Ann Kuenning

April 6, 1935 - July 18, 2025

Delores Ann Kuenning entered eternal life on July 18, 2025, age 90, at Silver Cross of Friendship Manor, Rock Island, Ill.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave, Rock Island, Ill., and on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 12 p.m., with a celebration of life following at 1 p.m., at Church of Peace United Church of Christ, 1114 12th St, Rock Island, Ill. Memorials may be made to Unity Point Hospice; Friendship Manor Staff Christmas Fund; Church of Peace United Church of Christ Food Pantry, Rock Island, Ill.

Delores was born April 6, 1935, in Lancaster, Ohio, the daughter of Samuel and Dorothy Wilson. She was a graduate of Memorial High School in St. Marys, Ohio, and then attended Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, Ohio. She married Kenneth D. Kuenning on September 5, 1954, in St. Marys, Ohio. The couple left the same day for Inglewood, Calif., where Kenneth worked as a student associate in ministry at Morningside Community Church. Following his internship, they returned to Eden Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., where he completed his training for ministry.

Delores was a faithful partner in ministry as they served churches in Rising Sun, Ind., Staunton, Ill., Boonville, Mo., and Rock Island, Ill., where Kenneth served the Church of Peace United Church of Christ for 26 and a half years prior to retirement.

She pursued her interests in writing as a ministry and authored two books Helping People Through Grief and Life After Vietnam: The Hurt and Healing of Wartime Memories. Prior to her books she had published articles and devotionals in various national and local publications. She was awarded the Religion in Media Award for her book on grief which was used as a course study guide for various colleges, training sessions, and support groups. She also made guest appearances on TV and radio discussing the dynamics of grieving and getting through the holidays. It was also translated into a Malaysian and Indonesian-language edition for those victims affected by the 2004 Tsunami and made available by the publisher to victims' families of 9/11 via the internet.

She was employed at Franciscan Medical Center from 1973 to 1985 and St. Anthony's Continuing Care Center from 1988 to 1996 as director of public relations. She taught for two semesters at Black Hawk College a course on Medical Office Practice. She served as a consultant to the Neighborhood Health Center in Rock Island prior to its opening.

Her interests and talents were in writing, music, art, genealogy and quilting. She and her husband enjoyed being parents to four wonderful children and family get-togethers. They also enjoyed camping, traveling, and musical stage plays. She was a past member and president of the Quad City Branch of the National League of American Pen Women and an active member and past president of the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild.

Delores is survived by her daughters, Laurie Albright (Alan Stephenson), Manchester, Mo., Annette Hong, Moline, Ill., Mary Kuenning Gross (Rev. Dr. Robert Gross) Waukesha, Wis.; son, Paul (Charlotte) Kuenning, Whitewater, Wis.; and grandchildren, David (Maria) Hong Woodbridge, Va., Kristina (Travis) Grier, Hillsboro, Ore., Sarah and Daniel Gross, Waukesha, Wis., Deanna (Corey) Wright, Green Bay, Wis., Emily Kuenning, Muskego, Wis.; two great-grandchildren, lan Hong and Myles Grier; and her cat, Simon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Kenneth Kuenning; parents; sister, Lois Jordan; niece; and nephews.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.wheelanpressly.com.

Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory

3030 7th Ave

Rock Island, IL

309-786-5421