Kenna (Peirsol) Howard

Kenna Laureen Howard (Peirsol), of Iona, passed away January 15, 2025, at Idaho Falls Community Hospital at the age of 60, following a courageous battle with congestive heart failure.

Born August 8, 1964, to Harold and Dolores Peirsol in Nampa, Idaho, Kenna was the second of 10 children and was baptized at the First Christian Church in Nampa. In 1970, the family moved to Ammon, where she attended school and graduated from Bonneville High School in 1982.

After graduation, Kenna married Charles Peoples on August 6, 1984. The marriage produced two children, Brandon and Nathan, and Kenna was a stay-at-home mother for many years. The family moved around quite a bit, living in Idaho Falls, Caldwell, and Nampa, before eventually settling in Belton, Missouri, just south of Kansas City. After nearly a quarter century of marriage, the couple separated, and Kenna moved back to Idaho Falls to take care of her parents. On August 28, 2012, Kenna married Robert "Bob" Howard, and the couple remained together until his passing on December 14, 2023.

Over the years, Kenna held several different jobs, but primarily was a caregiver, working at the Idaho Falls group homes. She enjoyed the work helping others, but ultimately had to leave that job after being diagnosed with breast cancer, which she was able to fight before it went into remission. In her later years, Kenna returned to her calling as a caregiver, this time for her parents, and later her husband and older sister.

Some of Kenna's favorite things in life included watching old black and white silent films, listening to classic rock music, and watching the Kansas City Chiefs win three Super Bowls in six years. She also enjoyed shopping, decorating her home, and watching old game shows. Kenna was a ray of sunshine to all who met her, and she will be sorely missed. Her departure from this life has left a void that cannot be filled, but we take comfort knowing she is free from pain and walking together with her Lord and Savior in the Kingdom of Heaven. Kenna was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her grandparents, and father.

She is survived by her mother, Dolores of Ammon; son, Brandon (Heidi) of Riley, Kansas; son, Nathan (Shanaya) of Idaho Falls; siblings, Tamara, Bethany, and Rebecca Peirsol, all of Idaho Falls, Chris (Marce) and Jon (Becky) Peirsol, both of Pocatello, Evan (Mandy) Peirsol of Nampa, Megan (Ray) Fitzpatrick of Dallas, Texas, Jeremy (Jenny) Peirsol of Meridian, and Matt (Eryka) Peirsol of Idaho Falls; and grandchildren, Oliver and Selena Peoples.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Iona Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Wood Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.