Melvin L. Kennedy

The night ended and a new day dawned for Melvin L. Kennedy on Tuesday,May 10, 2016. Mel Kennedy or “Unc”, 80, of Burchinal,Iowa, passed from this world to the next at 7:19 AM at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa, with his family at his bedside.

Melvin LaVern Kennedy was born on August 26, 1935, in Burchinal, the son of John L. and Grace (Barrick) Kennedy.

Mel was raised by his father and older sisters after his mother passed away when Mel was 4 years old.

He attended country schools until they moved to Fertile where Mel attended Fertile High School and graduated in 1954. He loved all the class reunions over the years.

Mel farmed with his dad and brother for many years. He enlisted in the Army and served overseas in Germany & England from 1956-58. He worked at American Crystal Sugar, Decker's Meat Packing Plant, Burchinal Elevator, and Carpenter's Local 1313. Working as a millwright, he worked in Spencer, Cedar Rapids at Quaker Oats, NIACC, and many other places in Iowa and Wisconsin. A major part of his life was at the Lehigh Cement Plant. He helped to convert the old Toro plant to General Foods Plant and was later hired on at the plant in Packaging Support where he worked for 10 years. He made many friends and now had an extended “family”. He retired in 1998.

Mel spent much of his life taking down and recycling old buildings and barns. With the help of his sons, he took down the Hawkeye Motel north of Mason City. He was a very active man and in retirement, at the age of 73, he was part of the volunteer demolition team that helped restore the Frank Lloyd Wright Park Inn Hotel in Mason City. He received the Herbert Kennedy Volunteer Award from Wright on the Park Board of Directors.

Melvin married Linda Scholl on November 29, 1975, at Hanford Church by Pastor Dallas Ahnen.
They were blessed with 3 sons: John Richard, Jeff Robert, and Joe Michael. The family was able to call Burchinal their home where wife Linda and son Joe still reside.

Mel raised cows, goats, ducks & chickens that laid “Easter Eggs”. His love for seeing things grow will be remembered for many years as he planted many trees, flowers, and sowed much asparagus. On
May 7th, he was still able to pick asparagus as his last job on earth.

Mel loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a member of Hanford Church where he attended Sunday School, served on the Board, and served as treasurer for a number of years. His latest position was the greeter where he opened the door and assisted people with the elevator.
Mel served several years on the Board of Directors at the North Iowa Community Credit Union.
He enjoyed going to auctions and was an avid recycler.

Family was a big part of Mel's life and he attended at least 4 reunions each summer. He was especially close to his brother Bob who passed away in 2014. He enjoyed coffee time at many places like Burchinal Elevator, but most of all at the home of his niece. A highlight of Mel's life was riding a restored family Farmall 350 Diesel tractor on tractor rides. It had been restored by his nephew. Mel enjoyed going to Spencer Fair and going “off the road” exploring with another nephew.
Mel was proud of his sons & their families. He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in June 2015.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years Linda; his son Joe of Burchinal; son John and family (wife) Kris and grandsons Brenden & Caleb of St. Michael, Minnesota; son Jeff and family (wife) Kelli and grandson Micah and granddaughters Janetta & Melle of Cedar Falls, Iowa; sisters Dode Klang, and Dorothy (Don) Nichols; sisters-in-law Carol Kennedy, Diana Bork, Bonnie Olson, Kay (Bob) Ingersoll, Karen (Mike) Hoeft; brothers in-law Ron (Jan) Scholl and Rick (Tammi) Scholl; special “daughter” Nicole “Red” Burns; “Fourth Son” Ben Scholl: very special friends Diane & Rick Pfertzel; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Bob; sisters Mildred (Bud) Bates and Betty (Orain) Hegney; brother-in-law Bud Klang; and father and mother- in- law Richard & Hazel Scholl.
His body was donated to Mayo Clinic Dept. of Anatomy for advancement of medical education.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Hanford Church Saturday, May 28, at 2:00 PM. Pastor Dan Carlson officiating.

MEMORIALS: Mel Kennedy Memorial Fund in care of Family-12119 Denison St., Rockwell, Iowa 50469.

The family expresses their deep appreciation to the doctors & nurses in Rochester; the nurses at Albert Lea Mayo Clinic; Dr. Ganesan and nurses at Mercy Cancer Center in Mason City; the angels on 4th floor West at Mercy Hospital that gave Mel & family the best care possible in his last days on earth; and to one special angel, Riley, for her great insight and encouragement to us as a family.