John Edward Kennedy Jr., 83

A wonderful husband, fantastic dad, amazing Papa and legendary Uncle Eddie Bear, John Edward “Ed” Kennedy Jr., passed away Jan. 25, 2022, at the age of 83. Ed was a kind man with a gentle soul who impacted every life he touched.

Ed was born in Oklahoma City on Jan. 17, 1939, to John and Mary Kennedy. The family, with older sister Nancy, lived in Purcell, Oklahoma, before moving to Colorado Springs where Ed graduated from Palmer High School in 1957. Ed excelled in sports — football, baseball, basketball, tennis and golf. Along with his 1956 State Championship football team, Ed was inducted into the Colorado High School Hall of Fame. Ed earned his pharmacy degree at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma, making him a third-generation pharmacist. His passion for the outdoors led him to Alaska for work where he lived for the next 10 years.

Luckily for Ed, a beautician named Charlotte “Char” Mendenhall worked at a salon in the first pharmacy he worked at in Fairbanks. Char would cash her checks at the pharmacy and, although not required, would write down her address and phone number on each check. Ed took the hint and they ended up married on May 10, 1962. Rarely spending any time apart, Char was still at his side when he passed 59 years later.

Daughters Lisa (deceased) and Shelly and son John “Tre’” were born between 1963 and 1968. The family later moved to Colorado where Ed was director of pharmacy at Penrose Hospital. Finally, Ed was drawn to Kalispell for work and outdoor activities. Ed owned and worked at many pharmacies in Kalispell. While he owned Medical Arts Pharmacy, he designed and opened the first “drive-through” pharmacy in Montana. Through his friendship with Doug Wise, Ed designed, built and owned Sykes Pharmacy.

Ed was always active in the community; he coached youth baseball from 1966 to 1982, was a Cub Scout leader, president of the St. Matthew’s School Association, sang and played the bass in the church choir and was active in the Knights of Columbus. In 1984, Ed and family received the Montana Knights of Columbus Family of the Year Award.

In 1986 Ed was elected mayor of Kalispell and served in that capacity until 1990. In 1988 he was chosen as one of six mayors to represent the United States on a goodwill mission to Moscow, Russia. Later, Ed was chosen to give the keynote speech in Washington, D.C., when 28 Russian mayors returned the visit. In 1990 Ed was elected to the Montana State Senate. Not surprising to anyone that knew him, Ed was simply too nice for politics, and he retired from public service having never lost a race.

Ed fished, hunted and trapped wherever he lived. Ed amused family and friends with stories of his many adventures, running traplines in Alaska, bird-hunting in Oklahoma, fishing in Colorado and eventually discovering Montana, where he was able to do it all. Ed loved the family “ranch” near Essex, where he hunted elk, trapped muskrat and fly-fished for cutthroat, all while sharing his passion with his children and grandchildren.

Above all else, his passion was bass fishing. From his first “big-un” caught in Oklahoma to his last caught at Lake Mary Ronan, Ed always searched out the best bass lakes around. Ed relished fishing bass tournaments, first with his son Tre’ and later with grandchildren. He qualified multiple times for the Montana State team, competing against the best on lakes in Montana, Washington, Oregon and Arizona. One year, Ed won the Montana Big Bass Championship, which allowed him to fish the Big Bass World Championship at Table Rock Lake. Ed eagerly shared his fishing expertise with his kids, nephews and grandchildren. He loved hosting youth fishing tournaments at his house on Echo Lake. All of his kids, grandkids, nephews and nieces have a story of fishing with Papa or Uncle Eddie Bear. Ed and Char lived on Echo Lake for many years and for the last 10 years spent their summers at Camp Tuffit on Lake Mary Ronan, not surprisingly, both great bass fishing lakes.

For the last 30 years of his life, Ed’s greatest joy was his grandchildren. Known only as Papa, he created unbreakable bonds with each of them, Dillon, Sarah, Norah, Nouf, Rayan, Rueger, Eddy (John Edward Kennedy IV) C.J., Valarie and Kelsie. Papa would attend every event possible, but especially sports. Papa was each of their biggest fans and never missed a chance to tell them how proud he was, and with him, you knew it came from the heart and he meant it.

Ed was greeted in heaven by his daughter Lisa, whose death was the greatest tragedy of his life, sister Nancy and nephew Norman.

Ed is survived by his wife Charlotte, daughter Shelly and Eddy Fox, son Tre’ and wife LeAnn, grandchildren Sarah, Norah, Nouf and Rayan Rashoodi, Dillon and Rueger Baier, Eddy and C.J. Kennedy, sister-in-law Diane Hartung, and nephews Rick and Ron Hartung, brother-in-law John Mendenhall, and nieces Mandy Smith Gauldin and Julie Lowery.

Through his kindness and love, Ed touched the heart of every person he met. The family will host a celebration of life at Camp Tuffit on Lake Mary Ronan on July 30 at 3 p.m.