Howard P. Kennedy, 83, of St. Paul, passed away at 12:58 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2016 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.
He was born April 27, 1932 in St. Paul to John Franklin and Clara Ellen "Nellie" (Crager) Kennedy. As a young boy, Howard attended O'Dell Country School through eighth grade. He then attended St. Francis High School, now St. Paul High School, where he graduated in 1951. The Class of 1951 was the last graduating class of St. Francis High School.
Following high school, Howard served in the United States Navy and was stationed on the U.S.S. Monongahela with a rank of Boatswain's Mate Third Class. During the Korean War. He was released from active duty in July of 1955 and received an honorable discharge from the Naval Reserve in September of 1959. Upon his discharge, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Occupation Medal.
After returning home from the Navy, he worked at the Phillips 66 Service Station. He then worked at his brother's dry cleaning business in Joplin before returning to St. Paul where he worked in construction for several companies including Coomes Construction, Beachner Construction, and LaForge and Budd Construction Company. He also worked for the City of St. Paul for three years and as a bus driver for CUSD 101 for 18 years until retiring.
On September 27, 1963, he and Viola Karen Goodsel were married at the St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. They lived in Parsons their first year of marriage before moving back to St. Paul in 1964. In January of 1966, they moved into their newly built home where they raised their family of four children. In September of 1975, the couple opened the Tick Tock Supper Club which they operated until its closing in March of 1999.
He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. In 1954, he joined the Norris-Carter Post No. 116, American Legion, in St. Paul where he served as Commander on various occasions. In 1956, he became a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 760 where he served as Grand Knight at various times. In 2006, he was awarded a plaque for his 50-year membership in the Knights of Columbus. Howard was also a life member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons. He served from 1981 to 1985 on the St. Paul City Council and again from 1989 to 1999.
Survivors include:
His Wife – Viola Kennedy of the home
Two Sons – Stanley H. Kennedy St. Paul, KS
John R. Kennedy St. Paul, KS
Two Daughters – Teresa Allen and husband, Mark Seneca, MO
Zoanna Bohrer and husband, Jeff Erie, KS
Six Grandchildren – Corbin and Piper Allen; Devon Bohrer, Kramer, Kylee and Keaton Kennedy
One Step-Grandson – Thad Hamilton and his wife, Lacey
Two Great-Grandchildren
Two Sisters – Eileen Hight Littleton, CO
Agnes Riggin Northglenn, CO
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John Thomas Kennedy and Francis Eugene Kennedy; and one sister, Gertrude Gallo.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be at St. Francis Cemetery with military honors given by Norris-Carter Post No. 116, American Legion and Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Monday, at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Paul Alumni and Friends Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Howard P. Kennedy, please visit our flower store.
He was born April 27, 1932 in St. Paul to John Franklin and Clara Ellen "Nellie" (Crager) Kennedy. As a young boy, Howard attended O'Dell Country School through eighth grade. He then attended St. Francis High School, now St. Paul High School, where he graduated in 1951. The Class of 1951 was the last graduating class of St. Francis High School.
Following high school, Howard served in the United States Navy and was stationed on the U.S.S. Monongahela with a rank of Boatswain's Mate Third Class. During the Korean War. He was released from active duty in July of 1955 and received an honorable discharge from the Naval Reserve in September of 1959. Upon his discharge, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Occupation Medal.
After returning home from the Navy, he worked at the Phillips 66 Service Station. He then worked at his brother's dry cleaning business in Joplin before returning to St. Paul where he worked in construction for several companies including Coomes Construction, Beachner Construction, and LaForge and Budd Construction Company. He also worked for the City of St. Paul for three years and as a bus driver for CUSD 101 for 18 years until retiring.
On September 27, 1963, he and Viola Karen Goodsel were married at the St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. They lived in Parsons their first year of marriage before moving back to St. Paul in 1964. In January of 1966, they moved into their newly built home where they raised their family of four children. In September of 1975, the couple opened the Tick Tock Supper Club which they operated until its closing in March of 1999.
He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. In 1954, he joined the Norris-Carter Post No. 116, American Legion, in St. Paul where he served as Commander on various occasions. In 1956, he became a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 760 where he served as Grand Knight at various times. In 2006, he was awarded a plaque for his 50-year membership in the Knights of Columbus. Howard was also a life member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons. He served from 1981 to 1985 on the St. Paul City Council and again from 1989 to 1999.
Survivors include:
His Wife – Viola Kennedy of the home
Two Sons – Stanley H. Kennedy St. Paul, KS
John R. Kennedy St. Paul, KS
Two Daughters – Teresa Allen and husband, Mark Seneca, MO
Zoanna Bohrer and husband, Jeff Erie, KS
Six Grandchildren – Corbin and Piper Allen; Devon Bohrer, Kramer, Kylee and Keaton Kennedy
One Step-Grandson – Thad Hamilton and his wife, Lacey
Two Great-Grandchildren
Two Sisters – Eileen Hight Littleton, CO
Agnes Riggin Northglenn, CO
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John Thomas Kennedy and Francis Eugene Kennedy; and one sister, Gertrude Gallo.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be at St. Francis Cemetery with military honors given by Norris-Carter Post No. 116, American Legion and Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Monday, at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Paul Alumni and Friends Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Howard P. Kennedy, please visit our flower store.
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