Thomas William Kennedy
Thomas William Kennedy, 75, a lifelong resident of Brookston, passed away 2:03 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2025 at IU Health Arnett Hospital of Lafayette.
Tom was born June 29, 1950 in Lafayette, IN to the late Arthur Gordon Kennedy and Dorothy Ruth (Downing) Kennedy. He attended Frontier High School, graduating in 1968. Tom lived in Brookston all of his life except to attend United Electronics School in Louisville, KY where he graduated from in 1970. After graduating he moved back to Brookston.
On August 2, 1969 Tom married the love of his life, Neisha Yvonne Runyon, at the Yeoman United Methodist Church. Together, the two would share 56 wonderful years of love and laughter; it was a wonderful marriage.
Tom worked in Electrical/HVAC doing contract work. He worked in maintenance at Packers before retiring from Fairfield Manufacturing after twenty two years. Tom dearly cherished the time he spent working on the family farm in Brookston.
Tom attended the Federated Church in Brookston and always looked forward to visiting with his friends and neighbors on Sunday.
Tom was a very loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, great -grand father, and friend. He loved watching the kids play football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, and attended many cattle shows. He recently was able to attend the Simmental Jr. Nationals cattle show in Madison, WI. He was a die-hard Purdue basketball and football fan. As a young boy, his father introduced him to flying through the Flying Farmers reunions prompting a huge love for aviation. He was a proud member of The Experimental Aircraft Association. He and Neisha made many trips to Oshkosh, WI to attend the EAA airshows, the largest in the world, and numerous other airshows. Tom had good times with family and good friends at the airshows. One of the high points of his love for aircraft was doing aerobatics in an SNJ-5 (T6 Texan) at Gauntlet Warbirds in Aurora, Illinois as his surprise birthday gift.
Anyone who knew Tom will remember him for his warm smile and infectious personality. If he had one gift it was a love for people and the ability to make others feel valued and welcome.
Tom and Neisha were blessed to raise three children: Jennifer (Dane) Klinkhamer, Jason (Janelle) Kennedy, and Jessica (Doug) Woods. Tom loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren: McKenna (Logan) Snyder, Connor (Samantha) Klinkhamer, Abraham Kennedy, Katherine Kennedy, Grace Kennedy, Drew Woods and Max Woods and his two great grand-children, Ellie Snyder and Nolan Snyder. Also surviving are his two sisters Joy Batcha and Janet LaMothe.
Preceding him in death with his parents are his mother and father-in-law, Donald and Wilma Runyon and his brothers-in-law, Joe Batcha, Ret. Col. JD LaMothe and Terry Runyon.
Friends may call from 2-7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston and also from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 11 a.m. Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Federated Church of Brookston (202 S. Wood); Rev. Dave Doles and Rev. Dr. Lelan D. McReynolds to officiate. Interment to follow in the Brookston Cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Tom's name to the Federated Church of Brookston.
Share memories and online condolences at www.clapperfuneralservices.com