Ralph Irving Kennedy

Ralph Irving Kennedy, 80, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, at his residence following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Naval Reserves. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Ralph Irving Kennedy was born Aug. 23, 1926, in Sioux City, the son of John G. and Judith (Forsling) Kennedy. He was a lifelong Sioux City resident and graduated from Central High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Santee in the Pacific Theater. During his service, he earned the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Area Medal.

He married Mary Wakeham on June 28, 1952, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City. He was a letter carrier for the United States Post Office.

He was a longtime member of the Cathedral of the Epiphany and then he was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed gardening and horseshoes. He also liked to play cribbage, telling jokes and vacationing in Florida. Above all, he loved his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Kennedy of Sioux City; three sons, Kevin Kennedy of Sioux City, Shawn (Kathy) Kennedy of Omaha and Dan (Julie) Kennedy of Sioux City; five daughters, Debbie Delaney of Sioux City, Terri (Tim) Fitzpatrick of Omaha, Karen Kennedy of Sheldon, Iowa, Amy Kennedy of Sioux City and Shannon (Jeremy) Kennedy Dittman of Sioux City; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Donna Clary of Sergeant Bluff, Bonita Fogel of West Brooke, Minn., Beverly (Corwin) Quiggle of Egan, Minn., and Violet (Ron) Meyer of Eugene, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Clifford, Harold, Leon and Eugene; and a sister, Ellen May.

Pallbearers will be Tim Fitzpatrick, John Casey Kennedy, Charles Jones, Wayne Kroger, Gene Groth and Eldon Cleveland. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Hayes, Matthew Kennedy, Willie Kennedy, Chaz Kennedy, Billy Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Dittman and R.J. Delaney.