Obituary for Robert B. Kennedy
Robert B. Kennedy 82, of Pekin passed away on Sunday October 12, 2008 at Hallmark House in Pekin. Born in Ames, IA on March 17, 1926 to Lester and Katharine Matt Kennedy. Bob married Ruth Houdesheldt in Peoria on June 11, 1949, she survives along with their children; Susan (Thomas) Laue of Evanston, Stephen (Diane) Kennedy of Pekin, Laura (Barry) Juras of Hawthorn Woods, Karen (Steven) Kagan of Burr Ridge, grandchildren; Christopher Laue, Andrew (Drew) Laue, Kate Kennedy, Patrick Juras, Josselin Juras, Adam Kagan, John (Jack) Kagan, sisters; Mary Nelson of Peoria, Pat Snyder of Brownsburg, IN and many nieces and nephews. His brother John and infant daughter Ann preceded him in death. He graduated in 1942 from St. Teresa High School in Decatur and joined the Army serving in the Third Infantry during WWII and helped to liberate the concentration camp at Ordruf, Germany and served in the Korean War. After the war he received his degree in Business Administration from Bradley University. During the 1950s he worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as a retail credit manager, sales assistant, wholesale territory manager in central IL and manager of the Champaign retail outlet. In 1959 he started Pekin Tire Center and operated it for nearly 20 years. He also served on the board of directors of the Illinois State Tire Dealers Association and as District Representative to the National Dealer Council. After retiring from the tire business he went to work for the Illinois Department of Revenue and the department of Advocacy. Bob volunteered at OSF St. Francis Hospice from 1993 to 2003 and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and was a RCIA sponsor and participated in WATCH and Cursillo. He also was a 3rd and 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3507 assembly 210 in Pekin and in 2002 he received the Pere Marquette Award for all his charitable work. Bob is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin where a funeral mass will be held on Thursday October 16, at 1 p.m. with visitation from 11:30 to time of service. Father Pat Fixsen will officiate and burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin with military rites by the U.S. Army. Memorials may be made to OSF. St. Francis Hospice. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Abts Mortuary.
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