Sigrid Kennedy

Sigrid Rempel was born to her parents Dietrich & Welda (Witzmann) Rempel in Estonia on January 22, 1915. In the ensuing six years she traveled with her mother trying to find a way to get out of Russia. Her father was a doctor who was aiding soldiers on the front. In 1922, Sigrid, her mother, father and sister Agatha were sponsored by a Mennonite colony in southern Minnesota to come to this country. Upon graduating from high school in Minneapolis she pursued a degree in nursing at the University of Minnesota. She was united in marriage to Charles W. Kennedy on March 6, 1937 in Minneapolis. After finishing his law degree Charles and Sigrid moved to Wadena in 1941. Charles was drafted into the Navy during WWII. It was then that Sigrid traveled with her two children to Lead, South Dakota where Charles parents were living. She also took the children to Boston where Charles was in Naval training. Finally, they settled again in Wadena. Sigrid was an excellent pianist, playing the great classics, as well as playing by ear. She read regularly and loved to read the complete daily newspaper. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the 20th Century Club. She frequently attended the concert series at the Memorial Auditorium. Sigrid loved to plant and care for a variety of beautiful flowers around their home. She also loved the birds who would frequent her back yard. Sigrid was preceded in death by her husband Charles on May 10, 2003; her parents and a sister Erika. She is survived by her sons Charles R. (Lois) of Wadena and John (Polly) of Westport, CT; daughter Patricia Kennedy of New York City; grandsons Charles R. Jr. (Kelly) of Stillwater, Douglas (Roxanne) of Eden Prairie and Steven (Anne) of Richfield; granddaughters Kate Kennedy, Nora Kennedy, Christa Johnson; great-grandchildren Maddy, Chloe, Parker & Max Kennedy; sisters Agatha of California and Hertha of Grand Marais; brother Otto of California. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 31st at 10:00 AM in the United Methodist Church in Wadena. Burial will take place next to her husband in the Wadena Cemetery following the services. The grandchildren & great-grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Sigrid Kennedy

January 22, 1915 - January 27, 2004