Daniel Kennedy

Champaign - Daniel Bowers Kennedy, 69, of Champaign passed away peacefully after a brief illness while surrounded by family at 11:13 AM on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He was born on September 15, 1946 in Sewickley, PA to George Clark and Charlotte Lucille, ne Bowers. He married Kim McKenna on June 20, 1981 in Rector, PA. She survives. Also surviving are his children with Kim: Colin, 33, of Brooklyn, NY, and Maura (Travis McDonald), 30, of Savoy. Maura's daughter, Sophie, also survives. Three children from a previous marriage also survive: Kathleen, Daniel, and Michael. His beloved dogs, Theo and Lexie, miss him greatly. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, George and Michael. One brother, Terrence ("TJ"), and his wife Val, survive. Dan graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA, where he studied English literature and began a life-long love affair with the written word. He served his country in the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army during the Vietnam Era as a helicopter pilot and flight instructor, attaining the rank of Captain. He studied law at the University of Pittsburgh and practiced child and family law for the last twenty years of his career, helping countless children along the way. He loved to write and contributed articles to the Journal of the American Bar Association and Life Magazine, among others. He brought his passion for teaching to students at the University of Illinois as an adjunct professor in the schools of Law and Social Work. For all of Dan's accomplishments, he will be remembered mostly as a patient, caring, and selfless father and husband who loved grilling (and smoking) meats, fly fishing, and making pancake breakfasts for his extended family. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dan Kennedy will be held at 5 PM on Saturday, February 13 at Sunset Champaign-Urbana Chapel at 701 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61821. Visitation will be from 3-5 PM, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ASPCA and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Visitation Feb 13, 2016 Saturday, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center Champaign-Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 Service Feb 13, 2016 Saturday, 5:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center Champaign-Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820