Jerry Kenney

Jerry Leland Kenney, 84, of Kewanee died peacefully at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Liberty Village in Princeton, IL.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday May 3 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with Pastor Haley Hausman officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Senior Citizens Center of Kewanee or to Liberty Village of Princeton. Please feel free to wear Cubs attire to the service if you are so inclined. 

Jerry was born on September 2, 1940, in Galva, the son of Norman & Arline (Strand) Kenney.  He and his sisters were then adopted by Haslam Brew who married Arline after Norman was killed in WWII.  He married Elaine Sweat in Galva on April 2, 1961.  He is survived by his daughters, Mychele Kenney and Mindi Goard, granddaughters, Meaghan (Derek) Keel and Jenifer (Chris) Waca and great grandchildren, Bexley Elaine and Maddux Scott Keel, Lincoln Charles and Leland Arden Waca; his sister, Carol (Ray) Ziebell and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his sister Judy and his beloved wife, Elaine.

Jerry graduated from Lafeyette High School in 1958 and attended Bradley University briefly. He worked for various foundries in Illinois, including Galva Foundry, Walworth Company in Kewanee and John Deere in East Moline. He spent several years as a mower for Baker Park and Midland Country Club. Jerry was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on several committees. Jerry was an athlete for most of his life, golfing, bowling and playing softball into his 40’s. Jerry was a loyal Illinois football and basketball fan, and he was an avid Chicago Blackhawk and especially Chicago Cubs fan. Seeing the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups was wonderful, but watching his Cubbies finally win the World Series was a lifelong dream. He became a woodworker during his retirement and enjoyed making furniture for his family. He loved traveling with his bride and family, including several lengthy U.S. vacations with his young granddaughters, and a “whole family” trip to Colorado in 2023.  Jerry’s pride and joy were his two granddaughters and seeing them grow into strong women with their own families was his greatest blessing.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry Kenney, please visit our floral store.