Francis “Frank” Edward Kennedy, 87, of Spirit Lake, passed away peacefully at his residence on January 12, 2023.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am, Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Visitation will be held from 9:00am, up until the service time at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be held at a later date in the St. Andrews Cemetery in Sibley, IA. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake, formerly the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Frank, the son of Judge Edward F. & Gwendolyn (Coy) Kennedy, was born on June 14, 1935, in Sibley, IA. Frank attended and graduated from Sibley High School in 1953. From here he was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C. During this time he attended night school at George Washington University and graduated from American University in D.C.
On January 28, 1956, he was united in marriage to Roberta Collins in Washington D.C. They made their home in D.C. until moving to Des Moines, IA while Frank attended and graduated from Drake University Law School in 1961.
He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and after completion of active duty he was employed by Employers Mutual Casualty Co. as a claim adjuster. They resided in Sioux City while he entered private law practice in Remsen, IA. Frank then took over his father’s law practice and the couple moved to Sibley, IA. Frank and Roberta made Sibley their home while raising their two daughters Maureen and Erin. In January 1984, his wife and first love, Roberta passed away.
On October 5, 1985, he was united in marriage to Jeanette Mary Mulder at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ashton, IA. They made their home in Sibley until June 1998 when they moved to Arnolds Park, IA. Frank continued to practice law in Sibley with his nephew and law partner, Joe Feller. They moved to Keelson Harbour assisted living in Spirit Lake in February 2022.
Frank was one of the founding fathers of “Off Off Broadway” theater in Ashton where he enjoyed participating in plays at the Cedar Cabin supper club. Frank enjoyed golfing, fishing, and especially traveling in his red Sunbird convertible through the mountains in Colorado. He was a 50 year member of the Iowa Bar Association, Sibley & Milford Kiwanis Clubs member where he was a past president of the Sibley club, and member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Milford. Frank also helped organize the original Kiwanis Kapers productions and the Osceola County Passion play.
Frank leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Jean Kennedy of Spirit Lake, two daughters Maureen Bensman of Erlanger, KY; Erin (Ben) Bendlin of Royal, IA. Stepchildren, Dan (Dawn) Mulder of Orange City, IA; Tom (Sue) Mulder of Moline, IL; Dave Mulder of Jefferson, IA and Mick Mulder of Spencer, IA. Also left to cherish his memory are his siblings: Pat Kennedy (special friend Theresa Robinson) of Spirit Lake, IA; Peggy (Jerry) Price of Jupiter, FL; Kathy Billings of Riverview, FL; Joe (Monika) Kennedy of Concord, MA.; Dick (Norine) Kennedy of West Des Moines, IA; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Roberta Kennedy, father Judge Edward F. Kennedy, mother Gwendolyn Kennedy, brother Tom Kennedy & sister-in -law Kay Kennedy, sister Joan (Kennedy) Weighner & brother-in-law Henry Feller, and stepdaughter Beth Mulder.