December 9, 1927 — June 20, 2021
William A. “Bill” Kennedy was the son of Ambrose and Rose (Brink) Kennedy. He was born and lived in Bancroft his entire life, except during his college years and his time spent serving in the Korean War.
Bill was quite the mischievous young man. One of his favorite escapades was instead of tipping over an outhouse for a Halloween prank, he would move the outhouse one or two feet forward so when the next person came along to tip it over, he/she would end up with icky feet. In later years, when an adult would call him “Billy”, we knew they were aware of his reputation.
He married Alice Higgins on Oct. 15, 1951, and they celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary last year. Bill and Alice enjoyed numerous trips and spending their winters in Arizona. While the kids were growing up, the family ventured on annual vacations, including California, Texas and the East Coast, with Bill typically driving a huge motorhome. One trip which continues to prompt many memories, is the family trip to Ireland. Bill and Alice also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and many foreign countries with friends. In Arizona, Bill and several friends organized the “Cactus Club”, and proudly wore their hats noting the group was “just a bunch of old pricklies”.
Bill was the third generation President of Farmers & Traders Savings Bank. He was proud of the many ways the bank helped improve the Bancroft area. After retirement, one of his favorite daily rituals was walking through the bank and visiting with the bank employees. He loved to be clever with crisp dollar bills for the kid’s birthday presents. And his way of embracing technology, was to include “dollarbill” in his email address.
He was proud to be part of the Bancroft Building Company, a group of businessmen who helped with countless local projects, including starting up the North Kossuth Golf Course. In a speech to the local Rotary Club, he reverently talked about the “notorious” members of the so-called “Bancroft Mafia”: the getaway car driver, cover up man, drug dealer, deal maker, undertaker and money launderer. Bill was one of the first Bancroft business people to visit with Dean Maschoff about moving the Aluma trailer manufacturing business to Bancroft.
He was an excellent golfer and certainly enjoyed being able to golf year round. He was responsible for teaching golf to most of his children and grandchildren, and thoroughly enjoyed beating them at a round. And everyone knew he could keep track of every score in the foursome.
Bill was a generous man, donating time and money to many local events and organizations. Among the numerous boards he served on were the Bancroft City Council, North Kossuth Golf Course, and Bancroft and Shannon Apartments. Bill was also a member and avid supporter of the Bancroft Community Foundation.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Accura Healthcare in Bancroft for their conscientious and attentive care of Bill. They were all so kind and went above and beyond the call of duty.
Surviving Bill are his seven children: Charlie and Ellengray Kennedy of Bancroft; Jan Kennedy-Allen of Vadnais Heights, Minn.; Tom Kennedy of Denver, Colo.; Teresa Kennedy of Bancroft, Mary and Russ Seiler of Humboldt; John Kennedy of Clive; and Bob and Liz Kennedy of West Des Moines. Grandchildren are: Patrick and Lindsey Kennedy and their children Julian and Max; Stuart and Jess Kennedy and their children Landen, Iyla and Tommy; Brian Allen, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Jake and Tiffany Kennedy and David Seiler. His siblings, Jim and Ellen Kennedy and JoAnn McDonald, also survive Bill.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Alice; two-year old daughter, Patricia Rose; two-month old grandson, Andrew Kennedy; his parents; and his sisters: Bernice Kohlhaas, Maxine Welp, and Shirley Horan.
After the private family service and burial, there will be a public Celebration of Life for both Bill and Alice Kennedy at the Main Street Pub in Bancroft on Sept. 13, 4-6 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Bancroft Community Foundation, in Bill’s memory.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Bancroft in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.