Earl Dewain Kennedy, of Broken Bow, Nebraska passed to his Heavenly home on December 23, 2020, while residing at Emerald Nursing Home in Cozad.
Earl was born on April 24, 1931 to Reverend Donald D Kennedy and Lila M (Hutchins) Kennedy at Blue Earth, Minnesota. He lived in Blue Earth for five years and then Duluth through the fifth grade when the family moved to Blair, Nebraska in 1942. Earl graduated from Blair High School in 1949 and attended Dana College. He worked at a grocery store for several years in Blair until moving to Sumner in 1951, where he worked on farms and an implement business.
On August 5, 1956 he married Marlene J. Triplett at Fairhaven Baptist Church east of Lexington. They made their home in Sumner for four years before settling in Broken Bow. To this union four children were born Larry, Barbara, Debra, and Randy.
Earl was employed at Gottschalk’s Jack & Jill Grocery Store in Broken Bow for 47½ years retiring in February of 2008 with a memorable retirement party. Of all the things that remained the same through the years at the store Earl mostly enjoyed chatting with customers and courtesy/carryout service. In 2003 Earl was honored as Broken Bow’s Employee of the Year.
Earl and Marlene celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in August of 2016 with family and friends. Within 6 months of that celebration, Earl’s Parkinson’s brought him to the painful decision to move to a facility to help with his health needs and a broken hip in April of 2017 made the decision that he would not return to his beloved home.
Earl accepted Jesus as his Savior at twelve years of age and was baptized and received as a member of the Baptist Church in Blair in 1943. He remained a dedicated member of the Sumner and Broken Bow Baptist Churches where he served as a deacon for many years, on the board of trustees, many committees, choir and as an adult Sunday School teacher most of his adult life. He served on the Nebraska State Baptist Board for several years.
Earl’s strong faith in the Lord led him to live every day as his mission field. He truly loved his home life, church life and work because it allowed him the blessing of showing just who Jesus was to him in very tangible ways.
Earl was a dedicated and loving husband and father to his children and dearly loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Earl always enjoyed the many activities his children and grandchildren were involved in.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene of Broken Bow and children Larry (Gay) Kennedy of Exeter, Barbara (Daniel) Hanson of Broken Bow, Debra Kennedy of Broken Bow and Randy (Rhonda) Kennedy of Lincoln. Also left to mourn his passing are his grandchildren Lance (Cherry) Kennedy of Torrington, Wyoming, Tyrel (Megan) Kennedy of McCool Junction, Lana Kennedy of Exeter, Jared (Sheridan) Hanson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Megan Hanson of Broken Bow, Nathan (Taylor) Hanson of Kenesaw as well as Samuel, Katherine, Sarah, Anna and Rachel Kennedy of Lincoln. Great Grandchildren include Caidan, Taran, Peyton and Aeson of Torrington, Wyoming, Lucas and Gracelynn Kennedy of McCool Junction, Natalie and Henry Hanson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Easton and Lennon Collins of Broken Bow and Harper and Huxlee Hanson of Kenesaw. He is also survived by numerous cousins and friends, including “adopted” granddaughter Nadine (Patrick) Wesche and children Mats and Mila of Limburg, Germany.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Donald and Lila Kennedy, in-laws Claris and Edna Triplett, cousin Harold Hutchins and infant great granddaughters, Chloe and Kyndall Collins.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, December 30th at 10:30 am at the Berean Bible Church in Broken Bow with Pastor Tyce Jensen officiating. Service will be livestreamed at www.govierbrother.com. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Berean Bible Church or Asera Care Hospice of Kearney. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 29th from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm with family greeting 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed for words of encouragement or remembrance at www.govierbrothers.com
