Chris Hertel

Kay C. Henkes Hertel, 69, of Gilbert, Arizona passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at her home. In accordance with her desires, she will be cremated and interred at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Chris was born January 2, 1948 to Kermit and Frances Elmblad Henkes in Peoria, Illinois. She married to William Hertel on August 9, 1969.

Chris grew up in Jefferson, Iowa, where she went to high school, then graduated from Scranton, Iowa High School in 1966. She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. and then transferred to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she graduated in January, 1971. She spent 22 years as a military spouse, living numerous places throughout the world, making homes for the family and supporting Bill in his career until she and Bill decided to settle in northern Virginia.

Chris worked for USAA Insurance for 18 years until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. In 2007, after successful treatment, she entered remission and she and Bill retired and moved to Gilbert, Arizona. She discovered in July 2016 that her cancer had returned. She went into immediate treatment and fought extremely hard. Everyone prayed that she would go back into remission.

Chris loved her dogs, Oscar and Chloe, she added them to the family soon after arriving in Arizona. She thoroughly enjoyed her retirement and the friends she had made over the years. She and Bill traveled a lot visiting places on her list in the US, Europe, Middle East, South America, SE Asia, Baltic Sea states, and Australia/New Zealand. Chris enjoyed playing mah jong and bunco weekly with her neighbors, and traveling and organizing other social activities with her many friends.

Chris was preceded in death by her parents, Kermit and Frances Henkes of Sioux Falls, S.D.; her in-laws, Charles and Shirley Hertel of Fairfield, Iowa; and her brother-law, Brad Forster of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Chris is survived by her husband, William of Gilbert, Ariz.; her son, Jason of Manassas, Va.; her sister, Ann Forster of Sioux Falls, S.D.; her sister-in-law, Janice Wilson (Larry) of Mesa, Ariz.; four nieces and nephews: Julie (Lee) Person, Wade (Sarah) Wilson, Kent Wilson and Kelly (Ken) Runyon.

Arrangements are being taken care of by Falconer Funeral Home in Gilbert, Arizona.