01/18/2012
Services for Paul Richard Kennedy, 78, will be Saturday, January 21, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.
at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas. The family will receive friends
on Friday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are requested for Hospice of Central Iowa. Online condolences may be left
at pierschbacherfuneralhome.com.
Paul Richard Kennedy passed away in the arms of his loving lord on Wednesday, January
18, 2012 while surrounded by his loving family at the Westridge Nursing Facility
in Knoxville.
He was born on April 30, 1933, to Howard and Tressa (Brown) Kennedy in Knoxville, Iowa.
He attended Knoxville Schools and enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean
War.
He married Ruth Bingham on January 22, 1954. They were blessed with six children.
Paul worked as a cook at the VA in Knoxville for many years. His family remembers
him cooking at home on the weekends, using no recipes, and always coming up with
something unique.
He enjoyed gardening, mushrooming, tinkering in the garage, and watching westerns
on TV. He loved being with his family and especially enjoyed being with his grandchildren,
taking them to Sunday School and Church and working in the garden with them.
Preceding Paul in death are his parents; brother, Forrest; son, Rick Kennedy; grandson,
Jeremy Kennedy; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Kennedy.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Ruth; children: Janice Blubaugh,
Mike (Barb) Kennedy, Jerry (Laurie) Kennedy, Greg Kennedy, Dan (Rose) Kennedy, and
daughter-in-law Joni Swanson; sisters: Jean Jennings and Frances Kennedy; 17 grandchildren;
and 13 great-grandchildren.