Mrs. CLARENCE J. (Leona E. Benke) KENNEDY 1907-2003

NEFZGER, BENKE, KENNEDY, WERNER, MCQUILLEN, WESSELS, WILHELM

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/8/2003 at 19:02:38

Leona E. Kennedy

Telegraph Herald - Friday, July 18, 2003

PLACID, Iowa - Leona E. Kennedy, 96, of 20883 Pleasant Grove Road, Placid, rural Epworth, died at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Catholic Church, Placid, rural Epworth, with the Rev. Joseph McDermott, SVD, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Epworth, where there will be a parish rosary at 4:30 p.m., and a wake service at 7:30 p.m.

Mrs. Kennedy worked at the Glover Co. prior to her marriage.

She was born on June 18, 1907, in Petersburg, daughter of Albert and Caroline (Nefzger) Benke. On Oct. 30, 1933, she was united in marriage to Clarence J. Kennedy at St. Francis Xavier Church, Dyersville; he preceded her in death on May 10, 1957.

She received her education in the North Washington schools in Iowa. She was a member of St. John's Parish, Placid, rural Epworth, and a member of its Altar and Rosary Society.

Surviving are two daughters, Yvonne (Duane) Werner, of Dyersville, and Sheila (James) McQuillen, of Papillion, Neb.; four sons, Vernon (Joan) Kennedy, of Dyersville, Pat (Nelda) Kennedy and Lloyd (Judy) Kennedy, both of Placid, and Leo (Helen) Kennedy, of Dubuque; 25 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; a brother, John Benke, of Dyersville; and a sister, Rose Wessels, of Dyersville.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Clarence Benke; and a sister, Lorinne Wilhelm.

A Leona E. Kennedy Memorial Fund has been established.

The family of Leona E. Kennedy would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque for all the wonderful care given to Leona.