Kelsey Janel (Hinson) Kunkel—faithful wife, loving mother, cherished daughter, caring sister and loyal friend—passed away peacefully at Perkins County Hospital in Grant, Nebraska, on September 12, 2026, at the age of 45 with her husband, Jason, at her side. Throughout her nearly 7 year-long journey through an incredibly rare form of gastrointestinal cancer, Kelsey remained devoted to caring for her family while providing an example of quiet determination and unwavering grace.

Born on May 5, 1981 in Oxford, Nebraska to parents Dennis and Lori (Moyer) Hinson, Kelsey was the oldest of two children including brother, Garrett. Raised on the family’s farm and ranch near Bertrand, Nebraska, Kelsey was taught the values of hard work, responsibility and family. One of her favorite pastimes while growing up was learning about the native Americans who had lived there centuries before while relic hunting with her grandpa, Bob. Kelsey also enjoyed sewing and embroidery at her grandmother Ada’s house. She would learn to play the flute, enroll in dance classes, run cross-country and be extensively involved in 4H - showing her family’s registered Charolais cattle and becoming a member of the Nebraska Charolais Association. As a 4H member from early on, Kelsey would continue to embody the values of this organization throughout her life – particularly that of selflessly serving others and the greater community. During high school she also assisted her best friend and “sister from another mother” Charlotte ‘Brooks’ Steffen teaching Vacation Bible School.

After graduating with the class of 1999 from Bertrand Community School, Kelsey enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she majored in Dance. During her sophomore year she resided in Love Hall on East Campus making several friendships that would last a lifetime. Later that same year Kelsey would meet Jason Kunkel while attending a dance with friends at the Pla-Mor Ballroom. After sharing phone numbers through mutual friends they would take the first steps in a relationship in which they would remain faithful to each other for the next 25 years until her passing. As Kelsey completed her degree during her senior year she had the opportunity to travel and perform compositions with UNL Dance at prestigious venues in both Washington D.C. and New York, New York.

Following her graduation from the University of Nebraska, Kelsey and Jason were married on July 25, 2003. At a time when most young people were leaving rural areas for larger cities they chose to return to the Lamar, Nebraska area to become the fifth generation of Jason’s family to farm and ranch. Over the next several years they would raise crops and build a commercial cow-calf herd from the ground up. Utilizing her experience in all styles of dance, Kelsey also opened Holyoke Dance Academy at the Peerless Center in Holyoke, Colorado and over the next six years she would instruct and inspire hundreds of kids until the responsibilities of family and the farm/livestock operation grew to require her full attention at home. Their oldest daughter, Kendra, was born in 2006 followed by their son, Joshua, in 2010. It was also during these early years of their marriage that Kelsey was baptized – accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior – becoming a member of the First Christian Church in Holyoke on September 23, 2007. Her and Jason would later reaffirm their faith together at the Imperial Methodist Church in 2017.

Throughout her life, Kelsey embodied the principles of servant leadership. Whether it was volunteering to coach youth soccer, leading church youth group, helping with VBS, or numerous 4H activities. When one of those organizations needed help she answered the call and showed up. Kelsey accepted the responsibility of leading the local Imperial Girl Scouts chapter as well as becoming a certified 4H shooting instructor in both Nebraska and Colorado. Another way in which Kelsey served others was through cooking and preparing excellent food for her family, various organization fundraisers and during peak work seasons on the ranch. As several people on the regular cattle working crew can attest – if you showed up to help brand calves or preg check heifers then you were not going to go home hungry.

When it became clear in the Spring of 2023 that the misguided policies of an indifferent school administration were having a detrimental effect on the well being of their children - and despite a diagnosis of Stage IV recurrence of cancer – the family relocated closer to Julesburg, Colorado so that their children could enroll at Julesburg School District. There Kelsey continued to volunteer for as long as her health allowed. She also kept up with her numerous hobbies and interests as best she could including scrapbooking, card making (with the occasional confetti surprise), gardening, raising chickens, cooking, kitchen gadgets, and personal fitness.

Kelsey will be remembered by numerous friends and family for her quiet resolve and loving nature - attributes which would shine only brighter in her years-long battle with gastrointestinal cancer and related anemia. Throughout the struggle and with the help of so many family, friends, healthcare professionals and anonymous blood donors, Kelsey continually defied the odds - surviving well beyond the life expectancy of not only the cancer but several associated chronic conditions until she was finally granted peace and called home.

Kelsey was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother Ada Hinson and maternal grandparents Ramona Koch and Dale Moyer. Those left to carry on her memory include husband, Jason M. Kunkel, daughter Kendra P. Kunkel, son Joshua C. Kunkel, all of Lamar, NE and Julesburg, CO, parents Dennis and Lori Hinson, Bertrand, NE, brother Garrett Hinson, Holdrege, NE, paternal grandfather Robert Hinson, Bertrand, NE, maternal grandfather Gilbert Koch, Eustis, NE, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to either Sedgwick County 4H Shooting Sports or Chase County 4H Shooting Sports. Also - if you are able - please consider making a blood donation at your next available local blood drive.

Visitation will take place at Liewer Funeral Home, 841 Court Street, Imperial Nebraska on Friday September 18 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 1:00 PM at Broken Arrow Cellars, 73892 332 Ave, Imperial, Nebraska with Pastor Randy Hayes officiating. Private family interment to be held at Green Lawn Cemetery near Lamar, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.liewerfuneralhome.com.

Liewer Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.