Kent Alan Carnell

Kent A. Carnell also known as “Lost One”, 71, of Ponca passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2024, following a brief illness in a hospital in Omaha, NE. A Memorial Service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, Nebraska on Friday, September 13th at 2 PM with Pastor Chuck Stanga officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior with family present. A Celebration of Life will be held at the 755 Pub in Ponca following the Memorial Service. Mohr Funeral Home of Ponca is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Honorary Pallbearers are Kris Carnell, Matt Robinette, Dustin Anderson and Brandon Rush. 

Kent was born on October 29th, 1952, to Max and Frances “Franny” (Crofoot) Carnell. Kent was the fifth of their eight children. 

 He graduated from Ponca High School in 1971. In 1971 he was drafted to the Army where he spent two years in Germany and served as a mechanic. 

Kent worked with his brother Denny at DC Repair for over 50 years repairing farm equipment in Ponca and the surrounding area. The two brothers were well known as the “Tractor Doctors”. There was no problem too big or small for Kent, he could think through things better than anyone. Kent loved to talk all things “diesel”. 

Kent married Karla Nelson on July 2nd, 1998. The famous joke was Kent needed insurance, so they finally got married. The couple made their home in Ponca. The only child the couple had, was their beloved dog Rosebud.

Kent was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also had a beautiful garden each year. Kent would recycle his harvest each year and start seedlings in their house during winter months and transferring to the garden under his science. Kent was also a fantastic cook. He loved canning his garden vegetables and wild game to enjoy all year long. He mastered Dutch oven cooking and was often the big hit at the Carnell reunions, an event he looked forward to every year. He also loved creating the best meals over open fire and his Dutch oven for his wife Karla on their fishing and camping trips. Kent’s fish and mountain oyster fry’s for family and friends were the best around. 

Kent enjoyed many years of bowling on league with his Tractor Doctor teammates. He was famous for socializing with friends and enjoying a good drink, while friends would pick his brain for advice on things. After DC Repair closed upon his and Denny’s retirement, Kent could still be found tinkering on special projects at the shop and daily visits to the Ponca Co-Op.

Kent is survived by his wife Karla, siblings Terri (Jim) Lamprecht, Diane Neill, Chuck (Rhonda) Carnell, Lynette (Donnie) O’Dell, Roger (Paula) Carnell, and Tyler (Ann) Carnell, Sister-In-Law’s Nikki Carnell, Mary (Slim) Bartling, Patti (Ken) Dinges, Judi (Jim) Dinges, and many nieces and nephews. Kent’s extended special family, Brandon and Heather Rush and their children, Braxton, Ashlynn and Callie Rush. 

He was proceeded in death by his parents, a brother Denny Carnell, brother in laws, Curt Neill, Jim, John and Terry Nelson, nephews Ryan Carnell, Kurt Dinges and Lee Holiday. 

The family has requested those attending wear camo or Husker gear to honor Kent.