Howard
grew up working on the family farm that was part of the original
Kennedy family homestead. His ancestors were among those many
Europeans who emigrated to settle the new Kansas territory. During
his youth he attended and served the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
Kickapoo. He attended Immaculata High School and graduated in 1949.
Howard subsequently attended the Donnelly Catholic College in Kansas
City where he was a member of the inaugural graduating class of 1951.It
was during his high school years at Immaculata that Howard met and
then fell in love with Mary Ann Heintzelman. Howard and Mary Ann were
married at St. Joseph of the Valley Church on June 28, 1952. They
then settled in the city of Leavenworth and joined St. Joseph
Catholic church for the remainder of their lives. Howard and Mary Ann
had five children who they raised in homes built by Howard's hands,
and all of whom they sent to St. Joseph's elementary school and
Immaculata High School. Howard and Mary Ann celebrated their 68th
wedding anniversary shortly before Mary Ann's death in July of 2020.
Howard
provided for his family through various positions in the Fort
Leavenworth army base maintenance and engineering departments for
thirty-six years. He retired in 1987. In retirement, Howard worked
part-time as an income tax consultant for a local tax preparation
company. He was also a member of the Army Reserves for 9 years in the
1950s and early 1960s, where he trained out of the Fort Carson army
base in Colorado.
Throughout
his life, Howard enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends.
Reminiscing about fishing with his grandchildren always brought a
smile to his face. Howard was an accomplished athlete in his youth
and enjoyed proudly watching his son and grandsons play numerous
sports over the years. He took pride in his daughters and
granddaughters and enjoyed attending their dance, acrobatics, music
and drama events. Family relationships were a priority to Howard and
family visits were frequent and numerous. In his retirement years,
the summer family reunions at the Lake of the Ozarks were a
highlight. Howard enjoyed water-skiing into his seventies and
jet-skiing into his eighties. Card games were a frequent activity at
family visits and reunions, and Howard looked forward to his weekly
card-playing activities at the downtown Community Center with his
retiree friends.
Howard
was a devout and lifelong servant of the Catholic Church. He began as
a young altar server at Sacred Heart parish in Kickapoo, and
continued to serve at the altar at St. Joseph in Leavenworth into his
eighties. At various times in his younger adult life, Howard was a
member of the St. Joseph Parish Council, Finance Council, and the St.
Joseph's (men's) Society. For over forty years Howard was an
extraordinary minister of holy communion at St Joseph parish, and
regularly took communion to the elderly church members at local
nursing homes. During the last 25 years of his active membership at
St. Joseph church, Howard was a leader in the Society of St. Vincent
DePaul which provided outreach and support to the poor in the
Leavenworth community.
Howard
was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann, his parents Charles and
Claudia, and his siblings Matt Kennedy, Loretta Smith, Claudia
Swenson, and Leo Kennedy. He is survived by his five children, Peggy
Tunink (Duane), Janet Loewenstein (Jim), Steven Kennedy (Beth), Karen
Wishart (John), and Lorraine Lewis. He is also survived by nine
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Howard
was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, and a
dedicated member of the Catholic church. He was much loved and
respected, and will be greatly missed by family, friends, and church
members.
The
family would like to thank Twin Oaks Long-Term Care and Catholic
Community Hospice for the amazing care and treatment they provided
for Howard.
A
visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. with the rosary prayed at 7 p.m.,
Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at St. Joseph Church in Leavenworth. Mass
of Christian Burial will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, at the church. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Howard's honor to
St. Vincent DePaul Society and
Please visit https://www.leintzfh.com to
offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Howard.
Together ♥♥♥ Forever
Mary
Ann (Heintzelman) Kennedy, born May 19, 1932 to Ralph and Ottilia
(Hund) Heintzelman, passed away on July 13, 2020 in Leavenworth, Kan.
at age 88.
A
lifelong resident of Leavenworth, she attended Hund Grade School and
then Immaculata High School (class of 1950), where she met the love
of her life, Howard Kennedy. They were married at St. Joseph of the
Valley Church on June 28, 1952, and they celebrated their 68th
wedding anniversary last month.
Mary
Ann devoted her life to caring for her family; she instilled faith,
kindness, and love in her children, and delighted in her
grandchildren. She always had a sympathetic ear and comforting words
for everyone’s troubles.
Mary
Ann was a devout lifelong parishioner of St. Joseph in Leavenworth.
She volunteered at St. Joseph Grade School and later at Xavier
Preschool, and was part of the team for Eucharistic adoration each
Wednesday. She crocheted countless baby afghans to donate to
Birthright, and she also loved baking, sewing, and caring for her
flowers.
Mary
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Ottilia (Hund) Heintzelman
and Ralph Heintzelman, brothers, Edward Heintzelman and Michael
Heintzelman, and sister Sarah Nunn. She is survived by her husband,
Howard Kennedy, her five children, Peggy Tunink (Duane), Janet
Loewenstein (Jim), Steven Kennedy (Beth), Karen Wishart (John), and
Lorraine Lewis, and her sister Irene Frey. She is also survived by
nine grandchildren, Fr. Shawn Tunink, Christine (Tunink) Krier,
Melinda Loewenstein, Kevin Loewenstein, Michelle Loewenstein,
Catherine Kennedy, Rebecca (Kennedy) Shafer, Alyssa Lewis, Hillary
(Lewis) Czerwinski, and five great-grandchildren, Tanner, Dylan,
Jayden, and Myla Krier, and Natalie Shafer. Mary Ann was a kind,
loving person who will be missed by all who knew her.
The
family would like to thank Twin Oaks and Catholic Community Hospice
for the amazing care and treatment in her final days.
The
family attended a private service on Thursday. In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made in Mary Ann’s honor to Alzheimer’s
Association, Catholic Charities, or St. Joseph Church.
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