Dorothy Sis Kennedy

December 10, 1938 — December 19, 2023

Dorothy Kennedy

Service Details

Dorothy “Sis” Kennedy, 85, of Altoona, Iowa, went to her eternal home on December 19, 2023, after passing away peacefully in her sleep.

Sis was born December 10, 1938, in West Des Moines, Iowa, to her parents Robert and Alice Lee (Smith) Walker. She was the fourth of seven children and attended Valley High School in West Des Moines.
During her teen years, she was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and remembered that time with great pride and joy. She was also a proud member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

During her first marriage, Sis was blessed with five boys: Robin, Ricky, Randy, Ron, and Russ Gist. In 1975, she was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Kennedy. Bob and Sis were married for 27 years until his
passing in 2002.

Sis retired after many years as a Supervisor for the Food Stamp Division of the DHS of the State of Iowa. She was instrumental in the transition from food stamps to the modern EBT cards and was well-respected by her colleagues. In retirement, she enjoyed helping her son, Russ, build his optometric practice by filing insurance claims.

In her spare time, Sis enjoyed traveling, various games and puzzles, watching game shows and soap operas, crocheting, and listening to classic country music, especially Elvis. For many years, she and her
sisters attended all ten days of the Iowa State Fair and enjoyed being members of the Red Hat Club. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and attending her children and many grandchildren’s activities and events. Sis also joyfully helped to raise her three grandsons Ray, Robert, and Tyler and great grandson Raymond Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sons Robin (Lisa) Gist, Ricky (Grace) Gist, Randy (Lori) Gist, Russ (Mandy) Gist; stepchildren Kathleen (Dennis) Narland, Robert (Debbie) Kennedy, and Vicky (George) Springer; 11 grandchildren Ryan, Jessica, Brandy, Tyler, Dakota, Kaitlyn, Randy Jr., Reggie, Riley, Raymond, and Robert; step grandchildren, Brandon, Emily, Tami, Jeff, Steve, and Tina; and over 35 great and great-great grandchildren; her sister Joyce (Don) Hill, brother David Walker, sister-in-law Sandra Walker, and many nieces and nephews.

Sis is reunited with her son, Ron, as well as her husband and parents, brothers Robert Walker and Ronald (Karen) Walker, sisters Joan (Paul) Evans and Jean (Richard) Burson, sister-in-law Barb Walker, grandson Robbie Bourdon, and her beloved dog Snuggles (who will be interred with her).

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 11am at Highland Memory Gardens, 1 NE 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. The family would like to welcome all to a celebration of life for Sis immediately following the graveside service to be held until 3pm at Saylor Township Fire Department, 211 NW 54th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.

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