Klem Kennedy

Biography

Klem Kimball Kennedy, 88, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away September 19, 2011, at Bonaventure Senior Living Community. Klem was born was born December 23, 1922, in Atwater, California, to Kathryn and Kenneth Kennedy. He grew up in the small town of Filmore, California, and graduated from high school in 1940. He attended the University of California at Berkeley from 1940 to 1942, before he joined the United States Army in 1943. Klem was one of the hand-picked Army recruits to attend the Georgia School of Technology as part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He was an engineer by trade and was one of the fission experts on the Manhattan Project in April of 1944. Klem met his loving wife of 66 years, Doris Woods, at a summer picnic in Oakridge, Tennessee, in August of 1944. That following spring, the two were married on May 5, 1945. Klem was discharged from the Army in February of 1946 and continued to work as an engineer. In 1950, with their daughter Karen Eileen and their 6-month-old son, Keith Thomas, they moved to Idaho Falls for the first time with the opening of the Atomic Energy Commission. Throughout the next few years, the family moved to various places within the U.S. because of Klem’s career, but he decided to return to Idaho Falls to raise his family. In 1955, Klem and Doris had their third child, Kevin Scott. The family had a happy home on 8th Street for years, which was always filled with home-cooked meals, homemade cookies, and love. After klem retired in 1976, he enjoyed many activities the beautiful state of Idaho has to offer. His favorite pastimes included fishing, golfing, hunting, traveling with a group of friends and their spouses in trailers, motorcycling, and driving. He was always willing to help out friends and family with whatever was needed. He will truly be missed. Klem is survived by his loving wife, Doris Kennedy, and his children Eileen (Jim) Brewington, Keith (Margie) Kennedy, and Kevin (Emma) Kennedy , 5 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents Kathryn and Kenneth Kennedy, and his brother Kenneth Kennedy, Jr. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery, 4602 South Yellowstone Highway, in Idaho Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Snake River Animal Shelter, PO Box 51741, Idaho Falls, ID 83405-1174, or contact them at http://snakeriveranimalshelter.org in Klem’s honor.

Graveside Services --Thursday

Thursday September 22, 2011 , 11:00 a.m. at Fielding Memorial Park