Leo Girard Kennedy

Leo Girard Kennedy age 79 of Englewood, CO passed on May 5, 2011. His family knows him as handsome, kind, generous, steady, independent, devoted, and solid. He loved to eat, laugh, fish, hunt, and lounge in his recliner. A man of great integrity, he was tenacious, tender, and trueïéé½ a strong, yet gentle-man. He is survived by his three step-daughters, Cherrie Lucerne and husband Howard Martin, Chris Lucerne, and Susan Lucerne and husband Tory Lawton; granddaughter Cera Hall and her children – Solana and Elijah; his sisters Mary Sloan and Gladys Haberkorn; and 16 nieces and nephews and their families.

Service: Wednesday, May 11 at 11:00am, St. Louis Catholic Church, 3310 South Sherman Street, Englewood.

Reception: To immediately follow at family home. Please bring your favorite dish to share.

Interment: Fort Logan National Cemetery along side the love of his life, Marti Kennedy.

FAMILY MEMBERS

Husband of:
Martha Joanne Kennedy

Step-Father of:
Cherrie Lucerne-Martin, Chris Lucerne, Susan Lucerne-Lawton

Grandfather of:
Cera Hall

Great Grandfather of:
Solana Hall, Elijah Hall

Son of:
The late Patrick Edward Kennedy, Sr. and The late Ethel Gerardot

Brother of:
Ethel, Peggy, Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Patrick Edward Kennedy, II, Mary Sloan, Gladys Haberkorn

Uncle of:
Rod Wilson, Phillip Kennedy, Judy Kennedy, Timothy Kennedy, Pamela Rasmussen, Patrick Edward Kennedy, III, Janna Kennedy, Kathy Carlson, Peggy Sloan, Janet Darcher, Patricia Elmore, Mary Shinners, Philipp Haberkorn, John Haberkorn, David Haberkorn, Katie Haberkorn, Joe Hicks, Jr., Jean Bennett, Julie Somerville

Children Close to Leo’s Heart:
Buddy McBartlett, Mindy Kellar, Taylor Smith, Jordan Hicks, Patty Nelson, Karlin Young

Eulogy for Leo Kennedy
Written and Delivered by Tory Lawton
May 11, 2011

Leo and I were IHOP buddies, International House of Pancakes that is. For the past seven years, Leo and I would head down to IHOP for our monthly dinner ~ chicken fried steak, two eggs over easy, hashed browns ~ good eating, our shared indulgence. And during dinner we would talk ~ current affairs, old hunting tales, life stories ~ and in this manner I learned a little about Leo Kennedy.

I learned of how he was born and raised on the family homestead out on the Colorado plains, in a house built by Leo’s father, Patrick Edward, for his wife Ethel, following their marriage. I learned that Leo was the youngest of six, and I have it on good authority that he was spoiled rotten. His childhood seemed idyllic, and I can only imagine that it forged Leo’s life long love of Colorado and the great outdoors. I learned of how Leo served eight years in the army, and was stationed in Germany. A fact of which, he was very proud. I learned that Leo worked at the United States Mint in Denver as a roller and a stamper for thirty years. I heard of the many hunting and fishing trips staged out of his Grand Lake retreat with, as Gary phrases it, Leo’s crazy friends ~ Freddie, Ebby, and Brian. Most of these stories centered around Freddie’s cooking tent and seemed to involve an ongoing war of practical jokes, and copious amounts of alcohol. As a matter of fact, I don’t recall Leo ever talking about the hunt, but then again, that wasn’t the most important part of the trip for Leo.

I learned that it was in Grand Lake at the Southways Bar that Leo met the love of his life, Marti. Susan relates how Marti was initially attracted to Leo’s broad shoulders ~ little did she know that those broad shoulders were more than a literal asset. These two starry-eyed ‘˜kids’ were true loves, all around companions sharing their passions for the natural world, gardening, and of course socializing. They were at the center of the bonds that brought so many lives together. Through the highs and lows, the good and the bad, they met life’s challenges together.

I also learned of Leo’s third great love, his bingo buddy, his partner in crime, his granddaughter Cera. Cera was the one person who could get away with anything with Leo; from putting her four-year old fingers in his nose while he napped to dancing in front of the T.V. during football games. Leo was there for every monumental moment in Cera’s life; from her birth in Scotland, to walking her down the aisle, and every imaginable school event in between. Papa Leo was great grandfather to Cera’s children Solana and Elijah. Leo didn’t get to spend much time with eight-month old Elijah, but he always referred to Solana as his little hula girl.

I heard of Leo’s love for his nieces and nephews, and of a special; life-long bond he had with one young boy named Jordan, who just a few years back asked Leo to be the best man at his wedding. I heard many stories, but my favorite story is actually two stories that came together over time. The first half of the story, I heard from his sister Mary just the other day.

It seems that Leo was never very fond of school, and that during his kindergarten year he would stop off at an abandoned house on the way to school and spend the day playing there. Leo would keep an eye peeled for the kids returning home at the end of the day so that he too would get home on time. Leo successfully ditched school for several weeks before he was found out. Leo never told me that side of the story, but he did tell me of the conversation with his father afterwards; of how Leo said he didn’t want to go to school, of how his father said that he must, and of how Leo stated, well, he just wasn’t going to. Let’s just say that the dialog broke down at this point, and shortly thereafter Leo started going to school. What I love about this story is that the actions of this five-year old boy; not going to school because he didn’t want to, staying alone all day in an abandoned house while entertaining himself, standing up to an authority figure; that these actions so clearly reflected the qualities of the man he grew to be.

Leo was a man of convictions: Leo lived life on his terms. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and he wasn’t afraid to act on those beliefs, no matter the odds against him, or the consequences that may have resulted from them. Leo was a solitary man: It could be challenging maintaining a relationship with Leo. It seemed he often kept his loved ones at arm’s length, but you know, he always kept us close to his heart. I was always amazed when I visited Leo at home, to see his dining room table covered with the cards he had received from family and friends. These cards were important to him. They were his connection to us.

Leo was a simple man: simple in all of the best ways. He loved Louis L’amour novels and T.V. westerns. He loved hunting and fishing. He loved children and animals. Leo was dependable, patient, and honest. He was devoted to his family, to his friends. He always made himself available to those who truly needed him. He created a stable home for his family. In short, Leo was a good man. Leo is gone now, a life well lived, well loved, complete. Now, memories ~ that bring a tear to our eye, a smile to our lips; his legacy left in the lives of those he touched.

I’d like to finish with a poem that we feel would reflect Leo’s sentiments. When I die if you need to weep, cry for your brother or sister walking the street beside you. And when you need me, put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me. I want to leave you something, something better than words or sounds. Look for me in the people I’ve known or loved. And if you cannot give me away, at least let me live in your eyes and not on your mind. You can love me most by letting hands touch hands, by letting bodies touch bodies, and by letting go of children that need to be free. Love doesn’t die, people do. So when all that’s left of me is love, give me away.

~Anonymous