Kenney_William

William H. (Bill) Kenney

William H, (Bill) Kenney passed away on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at his home in Lodi, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Mineola, NY on December 22, 1943, to parents William G. Kenney and Anne M. (Reinhard) Kenney. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1963, and was honorably discharged in 1965 with a rank of E-5. Bill then attended King’s College in Wilkes Barre, PA. He began his long career as an agricultural commodity broker/trader in upstate New York brokering potatoes. In 1973, he accepted a position with the Agway Co-Op in Canandaigua, NY as an international trader of dry beans. He traveled extensively outside the US and in 1978, visited Cuba as part of a humanitarian venture. In 1979, Bill moved to Colorado and accepted a position with Wickes Agriculture (later acquired by the Pillsbury Company) as a senior international bean trader. In 1983, he moved to Minneapolis, MN to work at the Pillsbury headquarters and then in 1984, transferred to their Saginaw, MI facility. After an acquisition by ConAgra Brands, Bill accepted a transfer to their Stockton office in 1993, where he continued to work as a senior international commodity trader until his early retirement in 2002. Bill then formed his own company, BK International LLC in April 2002, and along with beans, sold walnuts and almonds internationally. He operated his successful company through the end of 2012, when he retired due to illness. Throughout his career, Bill traveled all over the world and was well-respected in the global marketplace, receiving many honors.

Bill was a proud member of the Lodi Police Partners for five years, St. Anne’s Church and their Knights of Columbus and the Lodi American Legion.   He enjoyed building computers, playing racquetball and spending quality time with his family.

Bill married Judith A. Gauss on August 11, 1973, in Bath, NY. Together, Bill and Judy have two daughters, Susanne Boysen (husband Rance) and Heather Filippini (husband Ryan.) Bill was blessed with six grandchildren: Regan, Ella, James and Addison Boysen and Emilia and Eve Filippini.   Bill is also survived by sisters, Marianne Kenney of CO, Madeline Lapp (husband Brooks) of MA, Marguerite Hammond of MO and brother, Timothy Kenney of MO.   Bill was predeceased by his parents, sister Maureen Pospiech and husband, Albert, sister-in-law, Sandra Drake and brother-in-law, Paul Hammond.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Collins Family Funeral Home in Lodi. Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 17 from noon until 7 pm. A Rosary service will follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Bill on Friday, January 18 at 1 pm at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Lodi followed by internment at the Cherokee Memorial Cemetery.

Our family would like to thank Bill’s wonderful Solace of Home caregivers: Allison, Dianna and Alex for their loving care. Thank you, John Spagnola, you were by Bill’s side for most of his illness and like a brother to him. Also, thank you to Deb and the Infinity Hospice team for their support and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you may consider a donation to the Lodi Parkinson’s Support Group.

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