William Worthing Kenney
November 4, 1932 – February 3, 2024
A private Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, February 9th at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Omaha. Committal Service and Interment were held at Omaha National Cemetery with full Military Honors.
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William Worthing Kenney, “Bill” was born on November 4, 1932 in Omaha, Nebraska to Raymond and Kathryn
Kenney. He was the youngest of three children. He grew up in the Benson district in Omaha, attended St. Bernard’s grade school and graduated from Creighton Prep High School in 1950. He attended college at Omaha University and Creighton University where he met the love of his life, Ann Weinerth. Bill and Ann were married on January 22, 1955 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. They were married for 69 years and raised seven children together.
Bill joined the Air Force cadet program in 1953 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He proudly served in the Air Force for five years, stationed in Dover, Delaware and Honolulu, Hawaii. After leaving the Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his bachelor’s degree while attending college full time, working a part time job and raising three small children. Upon graduating, he accepted a position at Northern Natural Gas Company, where he worked his way up to a vice president position before taking early retirement at age 55.
Bill enjoyed traveling, golfing, walking outdoors, music and cheering on the Husker volleyball team. He also found time to give back by volunteering at Bergan Mercy Hospital. He made many wonderful friends during his 25 years volunteering there. Bill was a devout Catholic and attended mass daily. He remained steadfast in his faith until the very end.
More important than his career and his many accomplishments was his family – his true legacy. The self-proclaimed “luckiest man in the world” was dad to seven, grandpa to sixteen and great-grandpa to ten. He wore all three titles with pride. From graduations to sporting events, birthdays, dance recitals, births, good days and bad days-he was always there.
To know Bill is to love him. He will be greatly missed by many. As his favorite song “Edelweiss” suggests, his family and legacy will continue to “bloom and grow forever.”
Bill passed away peacefully on February 3, 2024 at the age of 91, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Kathryn Kenney; brother, Raymond Kenney; sister, Patricia Clark; brother-in-law, John Clark. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Ann and their 7 children: Steve (Joanne) Kenney, Mary Ann (Tim) Thunn, Mike Kenney, Chris (Brian) Beacom, Bob (Laura) Kenney, Kathy (Mick) McGill, Susie (John) Nelson; 16 grandchildren: Gina (Eldon) Summerson, Chris Kenney, Jess (Nick) Corbin, Kelly (Adam) Porter, Kyle (Marisa) Thunn, Josh Beacom, Jacob Beacom, Madison (Danny) Fell, Jacob Kenney, Ryan Kenney, Megan (Brandon) Guenther, Justin (Maddy) McGill, Sara McGill, Grace Nelson, Charlie Nelson, Ansley Nelson; 10 great grandchildren: Mason and Luke Corbin, Willa, Jamie and Barrett Porter, Owen and Miles Summerson, Declan and Greycen Thunn, Greylin Guenther, sister-in-law Martha Kenney; numerous nieces and nephews.
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