Father John B. Kennedy, age 93, of Quincy, died on Friday, August 7, 2020 in Blessing Hospital. He was born on April 10, 1927 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Bernard A. and Helen M. (Keating) Kennedy. The family was living in Chanute, Kansas at the time of his birth.

In 1928 his father’s work brought the family to Springfield, Illinois. For the next three years his father’s work took the family to three different locations in Chicago during the summer months. In 1932 John started to school at the Cathedral grade school in Springfield. His father’s work took the family to Paris, Illinois in the summer of 1937. In September of 1937 John started the fifth grade at St. Mary’s school in Paris, IL. He attended four years of high school at Paris High School, where he participated in athletics and was captain of the football team his senior year. On July 18, 1945 he was inducted into the U.S. Army. He took basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. He then worked at Separation Centers in Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, Fort Devens, Massachusetts and Fox Dix, New Jersey. John was discharged from the Army in March 1947.

In September 1947 he enrolled at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. As a sophomore at Rockhurst he decided that he wanted to be a diocesan priest and was advised to stay at Rockhurst and major in Philosophy and take plenty of Latin courses since the text books and examination in the Seminary would be in Latin. In the spring of 1951 John talked with Bishop Wm. O’Connor about entering the Seminary to study to be a priest for the Springfield, Illinois Diocese. He graduated from Rockhurst College with a B.A degree in Philosophy May 1951.

In June 1951 he received a letter from Bishop O’Connor saying that in September 1951 he was to go to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. St. Mary’s was founded in 1789. The Sulpician priests taught there. John was ordained May 26, 1956 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois. He served in the Diocese of Springfield at parishes in Jacksonville, Springfield, Alton, Quincy, Ashland, Alexander, Greenfield and Decatur. In 2006 Father celebrated his Golden Jubilee, or 50th anniversary of his ordination to the Catholic priesthood.

Shortly after ordination, John took a few golf lessons and played golf the rest of his life. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his many friends.

He is survived by his brother Thomas (Ruth) Kennedy of Bettendorf, Iowa
His nephew John (Aleesha) Kennedy of Warrenville, Illinois; His niece Elizabeth (Brian) Sharkey of Bettendorf, Iowa, Great Nieces: Megan and Emily Sharkey

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Joseph Kennedy.

The family also wants to thank the wonderful staff and residents at Bickford Assisted Living in Quincy for their love and friendship over the last 12 months.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon, IL. Visitation will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Thursday morning from 9:30 until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.