April 6, 1917 — Dec. 7, 1941
TITONKA — Fireman First Class William H. Kennedy, 24, of Titonka died Dec. 7, 1941, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on board the USS Battleship Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at 8 a.m., that Sunday morning. After 75 years, the remains of Fireman 1st Class William H. Kennedy have been identified and will be brought home for burial next to his mother in the Buffalo Township Cemetery, Titonka.
Planeside honors will be conducted at 11 a.m., on Thursday, May 11 on the tarmac of the Des Moines International Airport. His body will be escorted to Titonka where the public can pay tribute from 5-7 PM Thursday evening at Oakcrest Funeral Services of Titonka.
A funeral service will be Friday, May 12, at 10 a.m., at the Titonka United Methodist Church. Military graveside honors will follow at the Buffalo Township Cemetery conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard, the William H. Kennedy VFW Post No. 4071 of Titonka, and many other local American Legions and VFW Honor Guards.
William H. “Willy” Kennedy was born on April 6, 1917, in Swea City. He graduated from the Titonka High School in 1934. He loved to play baseball with both the high school and town teams. After graduation he worked for a local farmer, drove truck for Harold Miller, took a diesel engine course in Des Moines and attended a business college in Tyler, Texas. He joined the Navy on July 9, 1940, and went to Great Lakes Training Center. Willy was sent to San Francisco then finally to Pearl Harbor to board the U.S.S. Oklahoma. He held the rank of Fireman First Class. The local VFW Post in Titonka carries his name.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Titonka in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfunealservices.com.