Donald James Kennedy passed away November 4, 2023, weeks shy of his 90th birthday, in Yuma, Arizona following a brief illness.
Donald was born December 13, 1933, in Nemaha County, Nebraska to parents James Walter and Rachel Loray (Kennedy) Neimeyer. He attended Nemaha High School and married Elinor Ann Duey on September 20, 1953.
Donald began his career as a firefighter and mechanic at the Lincoln Fire Department, where he served for 10 years. He then moved to Colorado and continued his firefighting career at the Boulder Fire Department. In 1985, following 25 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant. Donald founded his first successful business, Fire Equipment Mechanic, while working at Boulder Fire Department. After retirement, his business success continued when he founded Front Range Fire Apparatus, which serviced and sold Pierce Manufacturing fire trucks.
His family, friends, and business associates knew Donald as a jack-of-all-trades, nuts and bolts kind of guy.
His dedication, energy, and mechanical expertise meant there was nothing he couldn't fix and nothing he couldn't build. Donald had an adventurous life that he lived to the fullest with his wife by his side. He enjoyed vacations with his sister's family at Lake McConnaughey, Nebraska. While there, he taught his children, nieces, and nephew how to water ski and won first place in a spear fishing contest for the largest carp.
Donald and his wife were avid NASCAR fans and traveled to races across the United States.
Additionally, they boated through the intercoastal water ways from Connecticut to Canada and took a motorcycle trip to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. Many laughs were shared with his family while on a particularly memorable trip to Lake Powell.
Arizona was one of his favorite places, and he enjoyed sand railing in the Imperial Sand Dunes with many of his close friends.
In addition to his parents, Donald was preceded in death by his sister, Burtis (Kennedy) Aufenkamp.
Donald is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Elinor Ann (Duey) Kennedy. In addition, he is survived by his children, Sheri Ann (Kennedy) and her husband Michael Shoeneman, Douglas Lynn Kennedy, Leah Loray Kennedy, and Diane Marie Kennedy and her husband Lee Comer, and his grandchildren, Sarah (Shoeneman) Ward, Mark Shoeneman, Evan Shoeneman, Rachel (DeCourcy) Woolford, Jamison DeCourcy, Blair DeCourcy, Axle Kennedy, and Lauren Kennedy.
A Memorial is planned for June 9, 2024. RSVP Leah Kennedy 303-589-3257.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a worthwhile charity of your choice.