ROCKLAND – Henry J. Kennedy, 78, died peacefully, Sunday, June 14, 2020, at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta.  

Born in Portland, July 30, 1941, he was the son of William and Helen McBride Kennedy.  Educated in Portland, Henry enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17.  Completing four tours in Germany, he spent a total of 12 years there.  While home on leave, Henry married Linda M. Libby on February 12, 1960 in Portland.  Together they returned to Germany and their family grew; all together they welcomed two sons and a daughter.  

Henry was later deployed to Vietnam where he served honorably.   Attaining the rank of Sergeant, Mr. Kennedy retired in 1977 after a 20-year career.  

Settling into civilian life, the Kennedy family relocated to Rockland where Henry worked for a brief time at Maine State Prison in Thomaston.  Over the next 10 years he tried his hand at lobstering while also driving for R&H Taxi.  Henry later found his niche after taking a job at Atwood’s Lobster where he enjoyed another 20 years of employment.  His family remembers Henry loved the years he spent at Atwood’s.  He was happy completing any job they had for him, from driving truck to sweeping the shop, he loved to be busy.  

When he did get ‘down time’ he kept busy gardening, playing beano, hunting and riding his motorcycle.  He had a few passions in life, first was decorating his entire house with Christmas lights for his grandchildren to see, and while in Germany, he developed a love for dirt track racing.  Henry was always a hard worker and could often be found helping out his neighbors with any odd jobs they needed.  

His steadfast love and patriotism will be sadly missed by all who loved him. 

Predeceased by his parents; a daughter-in-law Andrea Kennedy; three brothers, William, Robert and Alfred Kennedy; and two sisters-in-law, Hazel Kennedy and Rosemary Kennedy; Mr. Kennedy is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Linda Kennedy of Rockland; his sons, Thomas Kennedy and his wife Candace of Thomaston, Joseph Kennedy and his wife Heidi of Rockland; his daughter Susie Kennedy and her companion Peter Benson of Rockland; five grandchildren, Autumn Hollingshead and her husband Zak, Thomas Kennedy, II and his wife Amber, Linda Rackliff, Eileen Johnson and her husband Kenny, James Kennedy; six great-grandchildren, Trenton Hollingshead, Damian and Christian Humiston, Clara and Ben Theberge, Darian Johnson; three brother, Charles Kennedy  of Livermore, John Kennedy of Augusta, Frederick Kennedy and his wife Annette of south Portland; and many nieces and nephews.  

A graveside service will be held at 12 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2020 at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Veteran’s Home, 310 Cony Road, Augusta, Maine 04330.  

To share a remembrance or pay your respects to the Kennedy family, please visits their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. 

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.