Dorothy Jean Kennedy

Dorothy Kennedy, 92, of Oskaloosa passed Sunday, July 13, 2014, at the Oskaloosa Care Center. Dorothy Jean Kennedy, daughter of Hugh Howard and Marie Helen (Andeway) Shaw, was born April 14, 1922 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was a 1940 graduate of Oskaloosa High School. Dorothy was united in marriage with Melvin M. Kennedy on January 21, 1942 in Unionville Missouri. Dorothy was a homemaker and actively helped Mel and her two sons rebuild their home where they have lived since 1947 from the ground up; this included such tasks as plumbing, carpentry, and roofing. Dorothy also enjoyed embroidery, crocheting, gardening, canning, yard work and playing the piano and organ for her own pleasure. After Mel’s retirement, he and Dorothy enjoyed 15 winter’s in Apache Junction, AZ; this was an opportunity for them to escape the harsh Iowa winters, giving them a chance to hike and appreciate the landscape and environment of Arizona, travel to Mexico occasionally, and enjoy the company of family and many new friends in their retirement community. In 2011, Dorothy broke a hip and following surgery went to live at the Oskaloosa Center where she has enjoyed the comfort and loving care they provided her. She was a member of St Paul Congregational United Church of Christ in Oskaloosa. Her family includes her sons and their wives; Stephen & Mary Kennedy of Marshalltown; Jerry & Cheryl Kennedy of Chicago; two granddaughters: Stephanie & her husband, Alan Osgood of Marshalltown; Sarah and her husband, Timothy Schoenfeld of Council Bluffs; three great grandchildren: Isaac and Sophia Schoenfeld and Hanna Osgood; one brother, Ken (Jane) Shaw of Camanche; a sister, Marilyn Hightower of Oskaloosa; and numerous nieces and nephews including Cristy McCombs of Oskaloosa who was a caregiver to Mel and Dorothy the last several years of their lives. In addition to her husband, Melvin of 72 years, Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers; Leonard, Floyd and Hugh Howard Shaw Jr. Funeral Services for Dorothy will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation be held from Noon to 6 p.m. on Monday and resume Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. to service time. Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Ecumenical Cupboard. PDF Printable Version

Dorothy Jean Kennedy

April 14, 1922 - July 13, 2014