March 15, 1940 — April 30, 2016

John Joseph Kennedy III, 76, of Cassopolis, formerly of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, died Saturday, April 30, 2016 in Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac.

He was born March 15, 1940, in New York City, New York, to John and Catherine (Dunne)

Kennedy II, the youngest of three children. He married Mary Beth Lynch April 17, 1984 in Miami, Florida

She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother in law, Donald Lindgren.

John was a proud graduate of Villanova University (most notably the basketball team this year). He loved sports, especially if the teams were from Chicago. John was an avid reader. He loved books. He also liked to cook. Most of all, John loved time spent with his grandchildren, Izzie and J.R.

John will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Lynch) Kennedy of Cassopolis; one daughter, Kristine Zelazo of Miami, Florida; one son, John “J.K.” (wife, Monica) Kennedy, IV of Cassopolis; one granddaughter, Isabel Kennedy and one grandson, James Richard “J.R.” Kennedy; two sisters, Jean Kennedy and Janet Lindgren, both of Briarcliff Manor, New York; one niece, Catherine (husband, Fred Flores) Lindgren and one nephew, Donald (wife, Samantha) Lindgren, all of Maine.

Family and friends will gather Monday, May 9, 2016. from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at  10:30 a.m. in Saint Ann Catholic Church, 421 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with Father Donald G. Potts officiating. Mr. Kennedy’s remains will be laid to rest in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Cassopolis, Michigan.

The family prefers contributions be made in John’s memory to either, the American Heart Association, 950 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508, or, the charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.