Geoffrey Todd Kennedy

Geoffrey Todd Kennedy, age 44 of Tampa, Florida, formerly of Keokuk, Iowa, died unexpectedly on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at his home in Florida. Visiting hours will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at DeJong Family Funeral Home in Keokuk. Graveside services will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 17, 2011 at Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com. Geoff was born on May 7, 1967 in Keokuk, Iowa the son of Geoffrey L. and Karen S. (Jennings) Kennedy. He was raised in Oelwein, Iowa where he was a 1985 graduate of Oelwein High School. He attended the University of Northern Iowa and later Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He was a licensed funeral director in Sterling, Illinois where he met and married Jennifer Cassens on June 24, 1995. The couple moved to Tampa, Florida later that year where they purchased and operated a pet store at University Mall in Tampa. The fading business was soon transformed into a thriving business and became known as Ande''s Pets. He sold the business in 2005 and went into real estate with ERA Dennis Realty. He earned an associates degree from the University of South Florida, where he graduated top of his class, and was currently working toward a bachelor''s degree. Following his divorce in 2009 he had worked at Interstate Battery was currently working as a successful carpenter and finish worker. He will be greatly missed by his family and circle of close friends in the Tampa area. He is survived by his mother, Karen Kennedy of Marshalltown, father, Geoffrey (Lisa) Kennedy of Alton, Illinois, brother, Bob (Dawn) Kennedy of Blue Earth, MN, special friend, Susan Soto of Tampa, nephews, Jack, Jared & Justin Kennedy, grandmother, Verlie Kennedy of Hamilton, Illinois and several, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Mary Ann, maternal grandparents, Robert (Theresa) Jennings & Georgiana Jennings and paternal grandfather, John Kennedy.