February 4, 1941 - August 9, 2022
Jackie was born Feb. 4, 1941 in Topeka, Kansas to Frances & Zack Kellogg. She had two older sisters, Mary Kay and Beth.
After completing her first six school grades in Springfield, MO her family moved to Prairie Village in Kansas City. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and attended K-State University where she received a degree in Political Science. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, the National Honor Society, and completed one year of law school at Washburn University.
Jackie married Gary Kershner and had a daughter, Leigh Rachelle Nitcher and son James Derek Kershner. Her life and love revolved around those two children, her two grandchildren, Jessica and Ashley, and her great grandson, Ashley’s son Creed.
In 1983 Jackie married Joel Brende and said ‘he completed me’. She also felt privileged to have five talented step-children, Kareen, Eric, Terri, Alicia, and Mark and 19 amazing step-grandchildren.
Jackie had a number of meaningful although brief ‘careers’ as a legal secretary, clothing store manager, and travel writer. She loved dogs and together with Joel they had three Jack Russell Terriers, Bucket, Bagel, Boo, and recently felt blessed to have Brooklyn, an energetic Chihuahua,
Jackie & Joel lived in several locations - Topeka, KS, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Seminole, FL, Columbus and Macon, GA, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Kansas City. They had many opportunities to travel during their 39 years of marriage and had wonderful trips to Guatemala, Thailand, Indonesia, Paris, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and Alaska.
Over the years Jackie has had great friends and was in a Gossip Club, Bridge Club, Book Club, and Luncheon Club. She loved her life and laughed through good times and bad.
She is survived by her husband Joel Brende and his five children and 19 grandchildren and three great grandchildren; her son Derek Kershner, daughter Leigh and her husband Bryan Nitcher; her two granddaughters, Ashley Anderson and Jessica and her husband Blake Hartzell; her great grandson Creed, her four step-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.
Details for a Celebration of Life service will be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Great Plains SPCA, https://www.greatplainsspca.org/
NHB, flute player ,Overland Park ,Kansas
Joel, My deepest sympathies to you with the death of your wife. Even as life will be so different, I hope you will be able to continue playing in NHB, as music can help give some comfort. You're in my prayers, Jean Anderson
neighbor ,PRAIRIE VILLAGE KANS ,Kansas
Joel and family, so very sorry for your loss. Will always remember Jackie for her smile. Wish I had gotten to know her better.........after reading her obituary, I see that lead a very interesting life...........she is the first person I knew that belonged to a "gossip" club, thought that was so clever. Will keep you all in my prayers.
Friend ,Woodstock ,Georgia
I was saddened to learn today of Jackie's passing. Such a good, good human! I remember baking her 50th birthday cake as if it was yesterday. She left her imprint on my heart, a truly good soul, trailblazing the way for the rest of us. Manana, Jackie! 💖
