McKenzie “Kenzie” Rebecca Gamble, of Bettendorf, IA lost her two year battle to ovarian cancer, Monday, December 16, 2019. Kenzie was born to David and Kristina Gamble on February 12, 1998, in Davenport, IA. Please go online to www.RungeMortuary.com to leave online condolences and for the full obituary.
Kenzie was a 2016 graduate of Bettendorf High School and a current senior at the University of Iowa.
Kenzie loved spending time with her family when she wasn't at school. She loved Sunday dinners at Grandma Becky’s and they usually included a bit of good-hearted teasing back and forth. When it was nice out, Kenzie liked to barbecue at Grandma Patty’s and play a good game of bags.
She was a dog lover, especially her dog Mia, always ready for puppy snuggles and bedtime kisses when she was home.
Kenzie loved dance from the time she was a very little girl. After many years of taking classes at Midwest Dance Academy, Kenzie then started helping teach classes and equally loved teaching dance to the younger dancers. Many Saturdays the entire day was spent at the studio learning, choreographing and teaching dance.
Words often heard when describing Kenzie were outgoing, opinionated and energetic, especially on the sidelines of a soccer or volleyball game. From a very young age, she was her sister’s and brother’s team's biggest and often loudest supporter. Kenzie knew this and was not apologetic for it, you always knew what she thought. Kenzie was the adopted big sister to so many boys on countless sports teams, often loving them more than Dawson at times.
Kenzie always sported a fresh nail color. Kenzie and her sister Jenna spent weekends getting their nails done and shopping when she came back from school. (Sometimes accompanied by their father)
Kenzie had a great passion for school and education, still doing her schoolwork even though she was not feeling her best in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving this year. Kenzie went to the University of Iowa in pursuit of her interests in pediatric physical therapy. Her dream job was to work with children with cancer at the University Of Iowa Children's Stead Family Hospital.
As a freshman at the University of Iowa, Kenzie began her love for Dance Marathon. Kenzie held Mini dance marathons, fundraisers and garage sales in addition to the usual money-raising that is done. She always considered the Dance Marathon more than a club, it was family.
At school, Kenzie loved spending time with her “roomies” Nicole and Maggie that she met by chance freshman year in the dreaded dorms. Kenzie loved her boyfriend Justin Scott with her whole heart. Justin proved to be her rock during the stormy days these last 2 years, facing everything head-on and always able to make her smile.
In Lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Gamble family going towards medical bills, school debt, and all monies after that will be donated to Iowa Dance Marathon in Kenzie’s name. You may donate electronically through her GoFundMe page (Kenzie's GoFundMe Page), or through venmo (@David-Gamble-1243).
Those honoring her include her parents, brother Dawson, Sister Jenna; her grandparents Denny & Patty Gamble, Becky Buhman; Great-Grandma MaryAnn Terry; her uncles; Ryan (Corie) Gamble and Chad (Tracy) Buhman; cousins; Abby Gamble, Katie (Adam), Kyle (Madi) Buhman & Cole Buhman and Justin Scott, her boyfriend of many years.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents Bud and Mardelle Gamble, Dale Terry, Frank, and Dolores Ogden, Allene Buhman, John and Vi Buhman; and her Grandpa “Papa John” Buhman; Great Aunt Lynn Rose; and cousin Jason Carney.
