ELDON LEROY KENNICUTT, 70 of Elsie, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2016 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Eldon was born March 13, 1946 in Grant, Nebraska to Roy and Lorena (Johnson) Kennicutt. He graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1964.
As a young man, Eldon moved to Kansas City to work at the airport for a few years before returning to Nebraska. Eldon was united in marriage to Kathy Nichols on February 27, 1971, and the couple was blessed with 5 boys, Royce, Jerry, Dan, Mike and Scott, as well as over 50 foster children over the years. The family resided south of Elsie, where they farmed, for the majority of their married lives. The couple moved to town in 2006.
Eldon was loved the farming and had an appreciation for the outdoors. He spent countless hours over the years working in the yard and in his enormous gardens. He was quite creative, and was forever inventing and repurposing things to be used in and around the house and farm. Eldon was the backbone of his family, and his children always seemed to gravitate to him for doses of sound advice whenever it was needed. Eldon's presence will be missed and memory cherished by family, friends and the many foster children whose lives he helped to improve.
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Karen Glunz.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Kennicutt of Elsie; 5 sons, Royce (Tonya) of Wallace, Jerry (Dori) of Madrid, Dan (Vanessa) of Sutherland, Mike (Joni), Scott (Jill) all of Wallace; foster children, Slaina (Billy) Farr of Curtis, Allen Johnston of Elsie; grandchildren, Shane, Bridgett, Conner, Tristen, Kole, Jack, Chance, Bailey, Austin, Andrew, Emma, Derrik, Maisie, Emily, Aidan, Mari, Jazmine, Daphnie, Faliciti; brother, Alan (Linda) Kennicutt of Alliance; along with many other relatives and friends.
A memorial has been established in Eldon's memory. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.
Services will be on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Elsie United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Elsie Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Thursday, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.