Robert (Bob) F. Kennedy, 98, of Tallahassee, Fla., passed away on Aug. 26, 2022. He was born in Tuscola, Ill., on Aug. 20, 1924.
He was the first son of John (Jack) Kennedy and Lois Woods Kennedy.
Known as Bobby Jack he graduated from Tuscola community high school in May of 1942. One year after graduating he enlisted with the U.S. Army. He was a member of the 98th infantry as an antitank gunner and was sent to Hawaii to protect it from the Japanese forces. He spent over a year there. The 98th infantry then was reassigned as the second unit to invade Japan. On the way there by ship, a peace treaty was signed and the invasion never occurred as planned. He spent 18 months in Japan before returning to civilian life.
Bob used the G.I. Bill to attend and graduate from the University of Illinois with a degree in civil engineering. Bob then married his sweetheart, Rosemary Sunkel, on Oct. 4, 1952 in Paris, Ill. Their family home was in Paris and he worked for the State of Ill. Road Department. In 1957 they moved to Tallahassee Fla., employed with the State of Fla. Department of Transportation only to return “Home” to Ill. in 1960.
After a couple of years, remembering why they originally moved to Fla., they returned to the much warmer Tallahassee, with the State of Fla. Department of Transportation in 1964.
He coached atom league baseball, participated in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and drove to swim meets all to help raise his children. He retired from the Department of Transportation in 1987.
He was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
Bob was a long time FSU fan, loved to go fishing and play golf.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Rosemary in 2003, and his son Mark in 2008.
He will be fondly missed by his sons, John (Jack) and wife Kim of Monticello; Kevin and wife Nancy of Panama City; his daughter, Mary Kennedy of Crawfordville, and Tobbie Wright of Tallahassee; grandchildren, Ladonna (currently expecting the first great grandchild later this year) and Chris Hollinger, Robert and Laurie Kennedy, Karen and Jabril Vilmenay, Stephanie Wright, Tyler Brack and Chase Johnson, his sister-in-law Eloise Kennedy of Tuscola Ill., Tasha Boston and Jonathon Kennedy as well as many loved nieces and nephews in Ill.
Florist of choice is Gellings Floral Design in Monticello, or donations may be sent in his name to Blessed Sacrament Church.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home on Riggins Road. A rosary is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 624 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, with burial following the Mass at Meadow Wood Memorial Park, Timberlane Road.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Kennedy family.
