Walter J. Kennedy Jr.

Walter J. Kennedy, Jr., 79, of Shawnee, passed away April 2, 2008. Visitation will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church Tuesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Kan. Walter was born May 18, 1928, in Kansas City, Kan., to Walter and Emily Kennedy. After losing his mother, Walter moved to Turner, Kan., with his sister, Josephine Vincent. Walter joined the Navy and served in the submarine service from 1944-49. He was married in 1951 to Norma Jeanne Buie, who died in 1984. Walter was a graduate of the University of Kansas and University of Kansas Law School. After a brief stint as a government attorney in 1956, he moved his family to Eldorado, Kan., and worked in a law firm there until 1961, when he returned to Kansas City. Walter then joined the law firm Hoskins, King, eventually as a partner. He concluded his legal career in 2007 with McAnany, Van Cleave. Walter married Geraldine Lillich Rieke in 1986. He will be remembered for his love of jazz, history, and making us laugh. He leaves his loving wife, Geri; and daughters, Kathleen Kennedy and husband James Andrews, and Nancy Kennedy; a brother, Jack Kennedy and wife Mary; step children, Greg Rieke and wife, Beth; Janet O'Neal and husband, Mike; and Robin Neville and husband, Bill. Walter had nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. The family suggests donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, (913) 384- 8997, in loving memory of Walt's granddaughter, Julie O'Neal. Online condolences may be expressed at www.amosfamily.com. Arr.: The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, (913) 631-5566.