Elaine Esther Kennedy

Sibley, Iowa Elaine Kennedy, age 90 of Hastings, MN, formerly of Sibley, IA died at the Roseview Assisted Living in Rosemount, MN. Elaines life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 1:00 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, Iowa. There will be a visitation at the church from 11:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch will be served at church following the interment at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. A Memorial Visitation will be held at the United Methodist Church in Hastings, MN on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Caturia-Smidt (Hastings) and Jurrens (Sibley) Funeral Home are assisting with arrangements. Memorials preferred to the Alzheimers Foundation or to the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley. Elaine Kennedy was a gracious, sweet, loving mother, grandmother and friend. She was born to Fred and Esther (Johnson) Olson in Little Falls, Minnesota, on Dec. 1, 1920. She attended school in Little Falls and completed teacher training at St. Cloud Teachers College, and taught country school in the Little Falls and Benson areas for five years. Elaine met Bob Kennedy when he was home on furlough. She married him Sept. 28, 1946, in Little Falls in her familys farm home. They moved to Benson where they operated a restaurant, and later a Red Owl grocery store. They transferred to Sibley, Iowa, in 1953 where they managed the Red Owl store. They purchased the store with Nick Probst in 1957 and became the sole owners of the store in 1967. They retired from the store in 1976. Elaine and Bob were active in the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley. Elaine was involved in UPW and Circle, and at various times had taught catechism and vacation Bible school. As a couple, they had fun working together and in their retirement enjoyed traveling. Elaine enjoyed her neighborhood coffee group that gathered weekly over years. She always had a craft of some kind in progress. Every Christmas she had a special homemade gift for her children and later her grandchildren. Holidays were wonderful times for Elaine, as she always looked forward to having the family at home for the activities. Many Christmas holidays were planned around a special theme, often involving her current project. Elaine lived her faith and taught her children unconditional love. Her Bob died in 1994. In 2003, she moved to Heartwood Heights in Sibley, and later to an assisted living home in Hastings, Minnesota. For the past three years, due to declining health, she has lived at Roseview Assisted living, in Rosemount, Minnesota, where she died November 8, 2011. Elaine received wonderful care. Her family is especially grateful for the tender, loving care she received from all the staff at Roseview. Elaine is survived by her children, Jan and husband Jerry Matula of Hastings, Minnesota; Jim and wife Lila of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Jerri Lynn and husband John Grush of Boone, Iowa; and Mary of Spencer, Iowa; six grandchildren, Michael Miller (Allison), Kate Spindler (Matt), Joe Kennedy, Sarah Cooke (Travis), Lindsey Yordi (Travis), and Jill Grush; four great-grandchildren Roben, Ivy, Parker, and August; two brothers, Edward (Lois) Olson of Overland Park, Kansas, and Richard (Charlotte) Olson of Odin, Minnesota; two sisters, Vi Paul of Conroe, Texas, and Beverly Ellefson of Plymouth, Minnesota. Her husband, Bob, and her brother, Robert preceded her in death.