Doreen Elizabeth (Wagoner) Kennedy, 99, passed away at the Sheridan County Health Complex LTC on June 18, 2022. She was born to Edward Nicholas and Kathryn (Schwarz) Wagoner on March 16, 1923, at the family home northeast of Grinnell, Kansas.
Doreen grew up on the farm with her seven siblings. She attended a one-room grade school, Hillside #60 and went to high school in Oakley for a year and finished her last three years and graduated from Hoxie High School in the class of 1941. Raymond Garland, Principal of Hoxie High School, got her a scholarship to attend Barnes Business College in Denver where she earned a certificate. After attending Business College, she returned to Hoxie and went to work at the ASCS office.
Doreen Wagoner married William Francis Kennedy
on October 2, 1945, at St. Paul Catholic Church, in Angelus, Kansas.
After their marriage, they lived on a farm near Stockton, Kansas.
Several years later, they moved to their farm south of Hoxie. They were
blessed with six children which they raised on the family farm south of
Hoxie. Bill passed away on August 19, 1978.
Doreen was elected and served as Sheridan County Clerk for twelve
years. She enjoyed growing a big garden and had a huge strawberry patch.
She spent many hours canning tomatoes, peaches, pears, beets and
making pickles. She loved to bake, and her pies were the best. She
worked for the Hoxie Sale barn and baked pies for them to serve with the
meals they prepared. Doreen was a hard worker, but she enjoyed many
activities. She loved dancing. she especially liked the polka, big
band swing and square dancing. Playing cards, Pitch, and Pinochle, was
another favorite pastime.
She was a member of the Red Hats Group, was
involved with the Western Plains Arts Association, and the Northwest
Kansas Area Agency on Aging. Doreen spent many mornings enjoying coffee
and the company of friends at the Stop-to-Shop and Mahanna’s Pharmacy.
She also enjoyed traveling with several of her friends going on bus
trips around the country as well as trips to Hawaii, Mexico, and the
Panama Canal. Family get togethers, particularly, Thanksgiving and
Christmas celebrations were some of her favorite family times. She loved
going to the Sheridan County Fair and always enjoyed visiting with
friends. She just loved being around people and socializing. Doreen grew
up and was a member of the St. Paul Catholic Church in Angelus. After
moving to Hoxie, Doreen attended the Church in Seguin, Kansas until
Hoxie got a Catholic Church in 1949. She became a lifelong member of the
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Hoxie, Kansas. She served as the
treasurer of the St. Frances Cabrini Sodality for many years.
Doreen is survived by are her daughters Marilynn Nemes (Al) of
Littleton, Colorado, Sheryl McIlnay (Joe) of Colby, Kansas; sons, Don
Kennedy (Kathy) of Oakley, Kansas, Jim Kennedy (Deb) of Dodge City,
Kansas, and Keith Kennedy (Pat) of Hoxie, Kansas; grandchildren,
Kimberly Garfield (Aaron), Michelle Guthrie (Lee), Brian Kennedy (Lily),
Dan Kennedy, Michael Kennedy (Mahalia), Melissa Johnson (Douglas), Dr. Brad
McIlnay (Gretchen), Angela Holtz (Bobby), Amanda Juenemann (Michael),
Cari Miller (Jay), Ryan Kennedy (Lacie), Adam Kennedy (Lorena), Jenna
Sloan (Hale), Jill Schoendaler (Drew), and Kyle Kennedy (Jennifer); and
thirty-five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Kennedy; son,
Ronald Kennedy and great-grandson, John Juenemann; parents, Edward and Kathryn Wagoner; sisters, Marjorie
Bachand, Eileen Nondorf, and Patricia Foster; and brothers, Wilfred
Wagoner, LeRoy Wagoner, James Wagoner, and Kenneth Wagoner.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Friday, June 24, 2022,
10:30 A.M., at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Hoxie, Kansas.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
with family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the funeral
home. The Vigil and Rosary Service will be held following the
visitation and will begin at 7:00 P.M.
The family suggests memorials to the Sheridan County Amusement Company, Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Masses. Memorial may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com