Father Joseph Kenshol entered eternal life on the morning of Dec. 19, 2022. He was 78 years old.
Father Kenshol was born on Aug. 22, 1944, in Grand Rapids, son of Leonard and Jennie (née Borkowski) Kenshol.
Father Kenshol attended St. Mercy Academy, St. Mary Catholic School, and Catholic Central in Grand Rapids; Salvatorian Seminary-St. Nazianz, Wisconsin; St. Paul College, Waukesha, WI; Aquinas College; and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, MI. He was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 19, 1973, by Bishop Joseph M. Breitenbeck at St. Mary Church in Grand Rapids.
In January 1973, Father Kenshol was appointed parochial vicar of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew; in February 1976, appointed parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament; in June 1978, appointed parochial vicar of the Basilica of Saint Adalbert; in June 1981, appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Shelby and Our Lady of the Assumption in Rothbury; in June 1988, appointed parochial vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grand Rapids and, in June 1990, appointed pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus; in February 1994, appointed pastor of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Sand Lake with St. Clara Mission in Coral; in July 2012, appointed pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Mission, Harvard (Cedar Springs). He was granted senior priest status on July 1, 2013.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Visitation: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (2510 Richmond St., NW, 49504) on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 5-8 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church with Bishop David Walkowiak presiding and Father Bill Zink homilist. Interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery
May Father Kenshol now rest in eternal peace. Please remember him in your prayers.
