Robert Kennedy

Robert William Kennedy, 62, of Hackensack, MN passed away at home on Sunday, April 28, 2013.

Robert was born in Walker, MN and grew up next to the Walker School. He spent his summers working as a dock boy and fishing with his sisters.

Robert was a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was stationed out of North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA. He traveled the world in his naval career from Singapore to Hong Kong, Philippines to Greece, and was a Vietnam Veteran. When he retired in December 1989, he was an E8, Senior Chief Petty Officer for Helicopter Squadrons in Coronado. The Kennedy family was voted U.S. Navy Family of the Year in the late 1980's.

He was a Webelos Den Leader and active in Cub Scouts throughout Bill's scouting career. He was a baseball coach for several years for both Bill and Brandi.

When he retired in 1989, he moved his family back "Home" to Walker. He returned to school and received his Associates Degree and worked a few different jobs in Walker and Hackensack before settling in as the Pulltab/Gambling Manager for the Hackensack Legion Post 202 where he has been a member for many years.

In the last 8 years, his extra hobby was the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) where he and Sherrie would dress in period cowboy(girl) costumes and compete in single shot gun competitions. They traveled the southern to mid-west states and met many new friends along the way.

Out of the brainstorming of Robert and other legion patrons came the idea for the Hackensack Children's Fishing Contest. He would work tireless hours throughout the year for the next 16 years to provide the most exceptional fishing experience for 1000's of children and their families.

Robert is survived by his wife, Sherrie Kennedy, and son Bill (Shannon) Kennedy of Hackensack, MN and daughter Brandi (Kristopher) Bellmont of Rockville, MN. He is also survived by his siblings, Shaleen (Denis) Black of Walker, MN and Mary Jo (Doug) Wolter of Thief River Falls, MN. He also leaves 7 grandchildren and hundreds of kids and families from the Hackensack Childrens Fishing Contest.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lois Kennedy.

Services will be 1PM Saturday, May 4 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hackensack. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.