Arthur Wilfred Kenney

CHAMPAIGN – Arthur W. Kenney passed peacefully on Tuesday, May 28th in Champaign Illinois surrounded by family.

He was born in Paris, Illinois on May 18th, 1931, to Wilfred and Mary Kenney.  He attended Paris High School and went on to graduate from the University of Illinois with a degree in accounting. He was the youngest of 4 children and was preceded in death by his siblings Tom Kenney, Mary Rose Staats, and Karl Kenney.

On June 26, 1954, he married Judith Patrick.  They lived in Champaign for their entire life.  They had three children, Timothy P. Kenney (Julie), Sheila Ann Kenney, and Matthew A. Kenney (Laura).

Art had four grandchildren.  Joe and Tom Kenney from Mahomet, Illinois, and John and Elizabeth Kenney from Carmel, Indiana.  He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending his grandkids many sporting events around the Midwest.

In 1957, he partnered with Dean Evans to start Dean Evans Construction Company.  For over thirty years and through many ups and downs they built a successful commercial construction company and many notable buildings/structures in and around Champaign-Urbana.

He loved woodworking, renovation and repair projects, and in general working with his hands. He was a wing-shooter and a mushroom hunter. He enjoyed working with automobiles when he was young and his daily, early morning walks with his good friends and family dogs well into his golden years.

Art loved family gatherings at the cabin at Lake Sara and the annual trips to the Cardinal games in St. Louis. He enjoyed the yearly family vacations in Colorado to Beaver’s Ranch in the summer and various ski resorts in the spring.

He was a gracious, loyal, and fair man.  A good friend to many and had strong catholic beliefs.  He loved Judy, his wife of 70 years, and was a loving father. 

Arrangements will be made at a future date.

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