IN MEMORIAM Dougherty-Feringa; brother, John (Mary Kay) Dougherty and sister, Katherine “Kato” Hermann; other relatives and friends. We are grateful for the exceptional care he received at the Veterans Administration Medical Center through the years and up to his death. Thanks to all of you who showed kindness to our father in so many ways. Prayers followed by reception was held June 4 at the THOMSON-DOUGHERTY MANSION, Minneapolis. Private family casketed interment with honors was held on June 6 at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. John R. “Bob” Kennedy, Minnesota funeral director, dear friend, husband and proud dad, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 5, 2016, with his wife and sons at his side at the age of 50, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. A Celebration of his life was held on June 10 at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church of Blue Earth, with a visitation on June 9 at Patton Funeral Home. Burial was in the Fells Cemetery of Libertyville, IA. His services are being planned and cared for by his “family” at the Patton Funeral Home of Blue Earth. Bob was born October 12, 1965, in Keokuk, IA to Geoffrey and Karen (Jennings) Kennedy. He graduated in 1984 from Oelwein High School, attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated from Chicago’s Worsham College of Mortuary Science on April 11, 1988. Once Bob began his funeral apprenticeship at the Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield IA, he met Dawn and together they began their journey from Iowa City to Marshalltown, where they were married on April 22, 1995. Bob was active in the Marshalltown Jaycees, and was known for re-establishing the Nightmare on Main Street Haunted House. He enjoyed softball, golfing and riding his motorcycle, and in October of 1996, Bob and Dawn welcomed their first son, Jack. In October of 1999, Bob and his family took the opportunity to manage the Patton Funeral Home of Blue Earth, excited to raise a family in a small community. In January of 2000, second son, Jared, joined the family, and in March of 2002 their third son, Justin, was born. Bob was a dedicated father and family man, teaching his boys all of his knowledge of life and of course, baseball! He loved his three boys with all his heart and will be remembered as a dad who attended their life moments, games (be it sports or video!), and valued each and every moment he got to spend with Jack, Jared and Justin. For 17 years Bob was a funeral director in the Blue Earth area, and gave his service and support to over 1, 700 families while at Patton’s.
22 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2016
Bob was a passionate director, and strove to go above and beyond the needs of every family who walked through the doors of the funeral home he helped design. To show his care and love for the community, Bob chose a staff at the funeral home that was, and will continue to be, caring and dedicated to all. Bob truly had a second family at Patton Funeral Home. John Robert Kennedy loved sports; playing, coaching, spectating and umping made Bob happy. He attended as many BEA basketball, baseball and football games as possible. The Iowa Hawkeyes were undeniably his favorite team (sorry Rob). Bob was proud of his 13 year commitment to the “B’s or Better Breakfast” for the BEA middle school academic achievers. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club, and a well-known volunteer for many community events. Bob will be remembered for his humorous antics, friendships, meticulous attention to details, true love for his family, and wowing the little old church ladies with his “perfect hair”! Bob leaves behind his wife of 21 years, Dawn; his three sons, Jack, Jared and Justin Kennedy; mother, Karen Kennedy of Marshalltown IA; father, Geoffrey (Lisa) Kennedy of Godfrey, IL; grandmother, Verlie Kennedy of Hamilton, IL; in-laws, Gale (Jan) Underwood of Danville, IA; many cousins, extended family, close friends, families he served, and a community he was proud to be a part of. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; infant sister, Mary Ann Kennedy; brother, Todd Kennedy; and brother-in-law, Bryan Underwood. In lieu of flowers, and to save the backs of his funeral staff, Bob’s direct wishes were to have any gifts be made out to the “Bob Kennedy Family Fund” which is set up at the First Bank of Blue Earth (306 S. Main Street 56013), for his three son’s future endeavors. - See more at: http://www.pattonfh.com/obituary/John-R.Bob-Kennedy/Blue-Earth-MN/1624185#sthash. YpCEmFZl.dpuf Gerald “Jerry” Eiynck, Minnesota funeral director, a “young” 72 of Blaine sailed away on June 10, 2016, after a brief battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Jerry was a funeral director for KozlakRadulovich Funeral Chapels where he spent the last 13 years of his career. After graduating from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, he worked briefly in CA and then at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, Sathe Funeral Home in Jackson, Listoe & Wold in St. Paul, Kapala Glodek Funeral Home in NE Minneapolis and then Washburn McReavy in Minneapolis. Weeks before his death, Jerry was presented a certificate of recognition from the State of
Minnesota for 45+ years working as a licensed Mortician. To his work family who knew and loved him dearly, Jerry was an icon in the funeral industry. His passion and belief in funeral service is unparalleled and we all aspire to provide the level of care that he did. Even in his last days, as families found out about his illness, letters and messages poured in about how he touched so many in the brief time he cared for their families. Known for his love of shrimp & lobster, Jerry was a food connoisseur from the extravagant to the greasy! His favorites include The Lexington, Jax Café and White Castle. When he wasn’t eating, his pastimes included sailing with best friend and “adopted brother” Mike Burns on Lake Superior and taking motorcycle trips around the country. In celebration of Jerry, there was a visitation on June 20 at the Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel, Minneapolis. Memorials can be directed to Hope 4 Youth or Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul. Norman W. Zachow, Minnesota funeral director, age 94, of Minneapolis, formerly of Hutchinson, MN, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. A funeral service was held on June 27 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest alongside his beloved Audrey. Preceded in death by parents Robert and Helena “Lena” Zachow, brothers Roland and Martin, sister Gertrude Groehler, and his wife of 67 years, Audrey, who died Nov. 2, 2015. Survived by son John “Jack” (Linda) of Seminole, FL; daughters JoAnne (Gary Hede), Norma (Tony DeMars), and Mary (Andrew) Zachow, all of Minneapolis, and Denise (Paul Burandt) Zachow of Chaska; and grandchildren. Norman was born to German-American parents and raised in Gaylord, MN. Following high school and heeding the call like so many others of his generation, he joined the US Navy and proudly served aboard a hospital ship, the USS Solace, during WWII. Upon return, he went to school on the GI Bill and graduated from the Univ. of MN with a degree in Mortuary Sciences. Most importantly, he met and married the lovely Audrey Mae Loberg of St. Paul. Norman’s career took him to multiple locations, notably Lime Springs, IA (1956-1966), until he settled in Hutchinson, where he and Audrey lived for close to fifty years. He will be deeply missed. If desired, memorials to Alina Health Hospice or the hospice of donor’s choice. The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel was in charge of the interment arrangements.