Robert Kennedy

ROBERT GERALD KENNEDY was born on April 18, 1914 to Robert and Rachel (O’Brien) Kennedy in Elmer Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. Robert attended District 69 country school until the 8th grade when he continued to help on the family farm. Robert was united in marriage to Margaret Adkins on August 28, 1940 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. After their marriage, they continued to live on Robert’s family farm. In 1965 he retired from farming and started his new career as salesman for Lesota Tool Co. and Tri-State Warehouse. In 1967, he sold the family farm and they moved into Pipestone. He continued this career until his retirement in 1981. After the dissolve of their marriage in 1981, Robert lived in Luverne, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On February 28, 1998, Robert was united in marriage to Barbara Kazemba at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. They made their home on an acreage near Lakefield, Minnesota. After Barbara’s death in 2010, Robert moved back to Pipestone. He made his home at Storybook Apartments until June of 2011 when he moved into the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone until his death on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at the age of 100 years, 8 months and 15 days.

In his early years, Robert was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was an excellent welder, and would always help neighboring farmers in need. Robert enjoyed fishing, dancing, bargaining for and fixing gasoline engines and Maytag motors. He was an accomplished handyman – creating many things, including: rocking chairs, wagons and tables by memory, he would never follow a pattern. Robert was able to make anything of nothing.

Robert is lovingly remembered by his children, Gary (Joanne) Kennedy of Robinsdale, Minnesota, Jan (Donna) Kennedy of Pipestone, Minnesota, Craig (Lynn) Kennedy of New Hope, Minnesota and Colleen (Jerry) Moore of Mora, Minnesota; 13 grandchildren, Vicki (Jim) Sobraske, Andrea (David) Taatjes, Michael (Monica) Kennedy, Holly (Brian) Kennedy-Johnson, Ryan Kennedy, Cullen (Mandy) Kennedy, Jesse (Roxy) Kennedy, Jim (Kari) Kennedy, Robb (Amy) Kennedy, Julie Kennedy, Kevin Moore, Kelly (Steve) Johnson and Kenzie (David) Sorenson; 17 great-grandchildren, Katelynn Sobraske, Ryan and Maggie Sobraske, Derek and Jamison Taatjes, Maddie and Matthew Kennedy, Haley Ross , Carson Kennedy, Henry Kennedy, Olivia Kennedy, Dallas, Dexter, Dakota and Brittany Kennedy; and one great-great-granddaughter, Kaliya Severtson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his parents, Robert and Rachel; two brothers; and four sisters.