Cleo Marie Kennedy, 84, of Mesa, AZ passed away peacefully on October 18, 2009. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Mabyl Fouch, her husband, James Kennedy, and a sister, Bonnie Mae Blume. She is survived by three daughters; Mary (Wiegand) of Mesa, AZ, Rebecca Kennedy of St. Charles, and Cynthia (Dettman) of Cedar Rapids, IA, one grandson, Andrew Wiegand of Mesa, AZ, and two sisters; Roberta Hurd of Erie, PA and Susan Watson of Gilbert, IA.

Cleo was born at home on May 10, 1925 in Rippey, IA and graduated from Rippey Consolidated High School. After several years of attending school and working in the Des Moines, IA area, she married Jim in 1947. Raising three girls and supporting Jim’s work as a self-employed salesman kept Cleo busy for many years until she joined United Fire Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1978. After retiring from United Fire in 1988, she and Jim enjoyed traveling the US and she became an avid collector of state road maps.

Cleo and Jim relocated to Mesa, AZ in July, 2004. She will be greatly missed everyday by those who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2009 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, IA. Burial will be at the Rippey Cemetery in Rippey, IA. The family will greet friends at the funeral home beginning at 9:00am Friday, prior to the funeral service.