Joseph K. Kennedy

Joseph (Joe) Kennedy, 93, long-time Whittier resident, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2016. Joe Kennedy's easy charm and quick wit were hard to resist for those who were lucky enough to cross his path. Until the very end, Joe's love for life and intellectual curiosity burned bright within.



Joe was born and raised on a farm in Niles, Michigan. When he attended Michigan State, his studies of landscape architecture and urban planning combined his love of plants with his innate knack for design. His university studies were interrupted for two years while he served in the Pacific with the Navy during WWII.



After the war, Joe relocated to California where he began working for the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department as a planner, eventually rising to be Deputy Director of the department. Among the many projects in which he was involved during the burgeoning urbanization of Los Angeles County, was a comprehensive, countywide regional recreation areas plan.



Shortly after relocating to California, Joe met and married Kareen Johnson, who would become his wife for 58 years and the mother of their six children. Joe and Kareen built their post-and-beam dream home in South Whittier, whose yard he landscaped and lovingly maintained for the rest of his life.



After retirement, Joe continued his civic engagement as a member of the South Whittier Community Coordinating Council, a board member on the Orchard Dale Water District, and an active member of St. Gregory the Great parish for over 60 years.



Joe was pre-deceased by his beloved wife Kareen and is survived by his 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.



Services will be held for Joseph Kennedy at St. Gregory the Great Church in Whittier on June 25, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.