Miata Ioma Kenner

Miata’s parents, Derek Kenner and Debra Klepp, were overjoyed when she joined them as their
daughter on June 19, 1992, Juneteenth Day! Miata loved that she shared her “adoption
birthday” with an important and celebratory black history event. Mi was born and bred in
Milwaukee.

Her family, friends and co-workers appreciated Miata’s tenacity, her love of life, her infectious
laughter, her “independent womaness,” and her bravery. She was always up for a challenge.
During her short life, Miata tended cows (and helped birth a calf) while in high school in the
Madison area. She later took joy in her jobs; being employed was very important to Miata. Her
first job was at V.E Carter School, where she was a summer assistant for primary children. She
was an MPS Food Service Assistant, worked at Chic Consignment, Wisconsin Care System,
Inc., and the Wisconsin State Fair. She regularly volunteered as a student helper at the Young
Leaders Academy. And, she loved to exercise and dance at YMCA Zumba classes!
Mi loved to sing…you knew she was really happy if she was humming or singing, and she loved
to shop! She took joy in volunteering; her many acts of kindness in her volunteer work will be
remembered fondly. And she love, Loved, LOVED a new hair-do!

Miata was enrolled in the Milwaukee Area Technical College Associate Degree Program, with an
emphasis on Finance, until her health limited her attendance at classes. Even as her health
was failing, during February and early March, 2018, she was making the necessary
arrangements to take summer classes. The young lady loved a challenge.

As Miata struggled with her declining health, although frustrated, she always kept a positive
outlook. She loved to laugh, had a fun-loving demeanor and had a very caring, close knit group
of friends. She looked forward to future endeavors.
Miata was baptized at St. Martin DePorres Catholic Church and received her First Holy
Communion there. Miata loved her family, loved Vern Henderson, loved life, and loved God.
She received Christ as her Savior and was a long-term member of Walking in the Spirit
Ministries.

Although Miata has joined her esteemed ancestors, she leaves behind others who mourn her
early death: her parents, Derek Kenner (Donna) and Debra Klepp (Jack), her step-siblings,
Tomo Klepp, J.R. Klepp, Jason Yamamoto, Daniel Roberson, Ericka Roberson and Geofery
Roberson; her many uncles and aunts, sixteen nieces and nephews, an abundance of cousins,
her living God-mothers, Antoinette Mensah and Kyle Caldwell, other dear family members and
so many more who loved her, respected her, and provided care for her. We trust God and our
ancestors to intercede on Miata’s behalf to help in her transition from this life to the next, and to
ease our earthly pain.

Celebration of Life Service to memorialize and remember Miata at Sweet Communion Baptist Church, 3765 North 35th Street in Milwaukee on Saturday, March 17, 2018, 11:00 AM.

In Miata’s memory, our family would appreciate donations being made to the Greater
Milwaukee Foundation – Sarah Ann Ford Fund – In Memory of Miata I. Kenner.
101 West Pleasant Street, Milwaukee WI 53212

Online contributions can be made by visiting:

www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/donors/give-online/memorial-honorarium/