Philip Kennedy

Philip Sheets Kennedy was born at the farm 3 miles north of Lewis, Iowa on March 5, 1926. He was the youngest son of Lou A. and Gladys Sheets Kennedy. He lived there until 1939 when he and his family moved to the Sheets farm two miles southeast of Lewis. Philip attended Washington No. 8 School and graduated from the Lewis High School in 1944. After high school, he farmed with his father and brother. He achieved the rank of Sergeant in the US Army and was discharged in 1949.He resided at the farm southeast of Lewis until retirement and lived in Atlantic until his death. Like his father and grandfather Kennedy, Phil had a deep interest in Polled Shorthorn cattle. He enjoyed showing many times at Omaha, Kansas City, Denver and Fort Worth, Texas where he won many awards.Philip had been a member of the United Congregational-Methodist Church at Lewis, 4-H, Atlantic Elks Lodge, the Masonic Lodge #137 at Lewis and later, Cass Lodge # 412 of Griswold, Southwest Iowa Polled Shorthorn Association, and Iowa Shorthorn Association. He was also an avid collector of pewter items, wild life stamp pictures and Precious Moments figurines.Philip passed away at his home in Atlantic on May 8, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents. His survivors include his brother, Bob L. and his wife Valda of Atlantic, Iowa; niece Marsha Kennedy Beeman and her husband Mark, of Newbury Park, California, and their daughter Ashley and a nephew, Martin Kennedy of Palatine, Illinois and his children, Shawna, Tara and Nicholas. Other survivors include cousins, Mary Olsen of Lakewood, Colorado and Carolyn Wissler of Des Moines, Iowa.The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 13, 2006 at the UCM Church at Lewis, Iowa. Pastor Sharon Guffy-Lewis will officiate. The interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis.Friends and relatives are invited to return to the church for lunch and fellowship following committal.There will be a Masonic Service held by Cass Lodge # 412 of Griswold, with Walter Buffon, of Elliot, officiating on Friday evening, May 12 at 6:00 PM, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. This will be followed by a visitation from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The family would appreciate memorials for the restoration of the Nishnabotna Ferry House at Lewis.The Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic is caring for Philip"s family and the arrangements.Funeral InformationVisitation: Friday, May 12, from 6:00 - 8 pm. Masonic Service- 6 - 6:30 pm. Funeral: 5/13/2006, 10:00:00 AM Burial: Oakwood Cemetery