Harry Joseph Kennedy

Harry Joseph "Joe" Kennedy, age 78, of rural Pittsburg, KS, died July 31, 2024, at his home surrounded by family. He had been on dialysis four years. He was born February 16, 1946, at Walnut, KS, the seventh child of Harry C.J. and Emma Lou Schulte Kennedy. Joe attended Walnut grade school and graduated from Joint Rural High, Stark, KS, with the class of 1964 where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He married his high school sweetheart, Esther Clements, on February 13, 1965. Joe served three years in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Olathe Naval Air Base from 1966-1969. His family moved from Gardner, KS, to Chanute, KS, and he graduated from NCCJC in 1971. The family moved to Walnut where he farmed and ran a custom hay baler operation. He was a Vermeer dealer and rented out balers. He graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1987 with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems. His first job was at Kansas City Kansas Community College. He owned his own computer business prior to working for the City of Pittsburg. Joe and Esther moved to rural Pittsburg in 2000. He retired in 2009.
Joe was kind-hearted, fun, loving, and always had a joke or story to tell. Joe loved his neighbors, enjoyed playing golf, mowing grass, and dancing (taught dance). In earlier years he loved fishing, hunting, bowling, and flying his own plane. He loved his family, coached his sons' baseball teams, and loved watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports.
He was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church, Walnut, KS, and has been attending the Beulah Community Church most recently. He was a 50-year member of Vulcan Lodge #229, of Walnut, and Eastern Star #117 at Weir. Other memberships include: MIRZA Shrine of Pittsburg and the American Legion of Erie.
Survivors include: his wife of 59 years, Esther, of the home; son, Tim Kennedy (Sheila), Chanute; son, Jim Kennedy (Stephanie), Murrieta, CA; daughter, Cindy Lallemand (Ron), Walnut; sister, Vera Wheeler, Cherokee; brother, Marvin Kennedy, Chanute; brother, Wilber Kennedy (Janie), Erie; brother, Dean Kennedy (Cheryl), Andover; sister-in-law, Luella Kennedy, Harlingen, TX; nine grandchildren, Vicki Greve, Carly Lallemand-Garrigan, Timmi McNeil, Austin and Caden Lallemand, Houston, Joe, Britney, and Christian Kennedy; three step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one on the way, several step-great and great great-grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Teddy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Fred and Howard, a sister, Anna Marie Herod and a step-grandson.
Pastor Murray Balk will officiate the Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 24th at the Beulah Community Church Activity Building, Beulah, KS. The family will receive friends Friday evening, August 23rd, 6-8 p.m., at the Vulcan Lodge on Main Street in Walnut. Burial will be later in the Glenwood Cemetery at Walnut, KS.
Memorials are suggested to the Beulah Community Church or the Glenwood Cemetery at Walnut, KS, and may be left in care of Smith-Carson Wall Funeral Home, 518 West St. John, Girard, KS 66743.