Gary Gene Kenney, 06 Sept 1933 - 10 Mar 2015

KENNEY, THOMAS, HICKENBOTTOM, POSSEHL, MCGOWAN, LUCKNER, CASS, HEITMAN, MISEL, DURBIN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/21/2015 at 16:19:58

Gary Gene Kenney, loving husband, father and brother, 81, passed away March 10, 2015, in

Bradenton, Fla. A Celebration of Life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. The family will accept visitors one hour before the service.

Gary was born Sept. 6, 1933, in Marengo, Iowa, to John Vincent and Evelyn (Thomas) Kenney. Gary was a 1953 graduate of Marion High School and was drafted into the Army in 1953. He spent part of his time in the service located in Korea. He then attended the University of Iowa.

Gary had a very full and satisfying life. If there was something he wanted to do he did it. If he wanted to go he went. His energy was without bounds and he was passionate about whatever he set out to conquer. He worked hard not only building his own homes, but also rebuilding cars. A passion that followed throughout his life was cars. Gary made a career out of selling cars for Rapids Chevrolet. He was there so long and sold so many cars to so many people, that he could not go anywhere without running into a familiar face. After Rapids Chevrolet, Gary became an entrepreneur and owned his own car lot and later owned Roto Fab Plastics.

He was very happy to spend his winters in Florida. If you spoke with him during his time down south, he was very happy to let you know that the weather was beautiful in Florida and you could keep the cold and snow up north. He would see you up north when the weather warmed up.

Gary was preceded in death by both parents and his wife of 23 years, Linda (Hickenbottom) Kenney.

Gary was happily married to Doris (Possehl) Kenney. They were married April 6, 2006. Doris made it possible for Gary to continue to live in his own home even after Parkinson's disease slowed him down.

Gary also is survived by his sister, Maureen (Susie) McGowan of West Branch; five daughters, Michelle Luckner (and husband Ron) of Olathe, Kan., Tiffany Cass (and husband Kelly) of Fairfield, Denise Heitman (and husband Dwight) of Marengo, Robin Misel (and husband Todd) of Ankeny and Heidi Durbin of Grinnell. Gary also was very proud of his 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Please share a memory of Gary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

The Gazette, Posted on Monday, 13 April 2015, 10a