KVSV

Donna Rae Kennedy, Age 90

Donna Rae Kennedy, age 90, a resident of Belleville, Kansas passed away at on September 21, 2016. Donna Rae was born on August 30, 1926 to Charley and Pauline Hardenburger in her grandparent's home located in Narka, Ks. She attended Whitehall School, a one room country school, and graduated from Haddam Rural High School in 1944. In the same year she joined the United States Cadet Nursing Corp and in 1947 received a Diploma of Nursing from the Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing. On September 19, 1948 she was united in marriage to Harold Wallace Kennedy at the Haddam United Methodist Church. After serving as a nurse in Clifton and Manhattan, Ks. she pursued a Bachelors degree from Kansas State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1968. After the death of Harold in 1969, Donna completed her Master's of Science degree from KSU and began her career as a nursing educator at Garden City Community College. She served as the Director of the GCCC Nursing Department from 1976 to 1990. Donna was recognized as the 1990 Nurse of the Year by the Kansas State Nurses' Association. Upon her retirement in 1990, she returned to Manhattan, Kansas where she was a member of the College Avenue United Methodist Church, spent time with her granddaughters and enjoyed volunteer work at the Ogden Friendship House. In 2004 she moved to Belleville and joined the Belleville United Methodist Church.

Donna is survived by her son and his wife, Patrick and Sue Kennedy of Stillwater, OK; her daughter and husband, Karen Sue and Dale Culbertson of Wamego, Ks; Granddaughters, Sandra Anderson of Waynesville, Mo; Jodie Culbertson of Wamego, Ks; Emily McClurg of Broken Arrow, Ok. and Dr. Laura Christianson of Urbana, Il. Donna enjoyed the company of five great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter: Cade Alan Culbertson, Martha Michelle and Alexandra Sue Anderson, Grayson Matthew and Levi Patrick McClurg, and Marlei Marie Culbertson. Donna is further survived by her two brothers of Haddam, Ks, William and Charles Hardenburger and her sister-in-law, Peggy Carlson of Fairbury, Ne.

Funeral services for Donna Rae Kennedy will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, Belleville. The Rev. Emily Meckley, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be at the Mahaska Cemetery, Mahaska, KS. Friends may call from 1-9 pm Thursday and Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Harold W. Kennedy Family Scholarship Fund in care of the Kansas State University Foundation, Manhattan, KS.

Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com.

Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.

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