Ron Kennedy, age 68, of Great Bend, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center. Ronald Dee Kennedy was born on August 7, 1947 in Hays to William Francis "Bill" and Doreen Elizabeth (Wagoner) Kennedy. He was an identical twin brother of Don Kennedy.

Ron was raised on the farm south of Hoxie and attended Hoxie Grade School and High School. After graduation from Sheridan Community High School in 1965, Ron earned a BS degree in Business & Accounting at KSU in 1969. He joined the Kansas Army National Guard, Great Bend Armory in 1970 and served in the Kansas National Guard into the 1980's. He married JoAnn Penka from Claflin in 1972. They were the parents of two children: infant Patrick who died at birth, and Curt, who lives in Evergreen, CO. Ron was an accountant for ten years with an accounting firm and a water well drilling company in Great Bend. He established Kennedy Accounting Services and later Kennedy Remodeling for several years.

Ron worked for several farmers in the Great Bend area where he enjoyed the farm, particularly with the wheat, milo, and corn harvest. Ron could make any "old" truck or combine run, and the farmers he worked for loved it. He raised cattle and kept horses, goats, sheep, and many cats. His health deteriorated to where he could not safely operate the farm equipment, trucks, tractors and combines. He then set up his own lawn care, tree trimming, and landscaping business until he became disabled.

Ron was very proud to have served in the National Guard. After his honorable discharge in the 1980's, Ron attended many meetings and functions with the V.F.W. Posts in Great Bend and Larned. He would get up early many mornings to drive to Larned and cook breakfast for the members and stay for the day and join his buddies for the evening. In later years, he was kind, considerate, and generous in helping elderly people who could not drive by getting them groceries, running errands, etc.

Ron was a resident in the nursing home for the past two years, and had significant health issues.

Ron was preceded in death by his father Bill Kennedy and infant son Patrick.

Survivors include his son Curt (Cori) Kennedy of Evergreen, CO; his mother Doreen of Hoxie, brothers: Don (Kathy) of Oakley, Jim (Deb) of Dodge City, and Keith (Pat) of Hoxie; and sisters: Marilynn (Al) Nemes of Littleton, CO and Sheryl (Joe) McIlnay of Colby, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 4, 2015 at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Hoxie with Fr. Dana Clark officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with military honors by the Kansas Army National Guard. Visitation: 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3rd at the church parish hall, with a rosary/wake service at 7:30 p.m. Memorials to St. Frances Cemetery Fund may be sent to Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, PO Box 221, Oakley 67748 www.kennedykosterfh.com