Samuel William Kennedy, known affectionately to friends and family as Sam, embarked on his final adventure on July 4th, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and a garage full of tools that would make any handyman green with envy. Born on January 24, 1964, in the small town of Connellsville, PA, Sam's infectious humor and boundless generosity knew no bounds from the get-go. After a valiant battle with cancer, he took his last bow in Albany, Oregon, leaving the stage of life to a standing ovation.

A true patriot with a heart as big as his personality, Sam served his country with honor and distinction for 27 years across the Navy, Air Force, Army, and Oregon Army National Guard. After retiring in 2011, he didn't just rest on his laurels. No, Sam dove headfirst into the telecommunications world, charming co-workers and cables alike until he hung up his hard hat for the last time at Centurylink in 2021. Even in his final chapter, he didn't slow down, working with Allied Universal, where he was surely the life and soul of the break room.

Sam's educational journey began at Lancaster High in Lancaster, Ohio, where he graduated in 1982. Although he never boasted about his smarts, those who knew him were well aware of his sharp intellect and uncanny ability to fix anything that had the audacity to stop working. As a master craftsman, Sam could often be found in his workshop, creating wooden wonders and solving the world's problems one sawdust pile at a time. His hands were as skilled with a joystick as they were with a jigsaw, and gaming sessions with his sons and grandson were events of epic proportions. Motorcycle riding was more than a hobby; it was his way of making the road his own, and his homemade brew had a fan club all its own.

Family was the cornerstone of Sam's world. He shared his life with his beloved wife, Shawna Gojenola-Kennedy, his compass and co-conspirator in all things. His children, Rhiannon, Brianna, Amber, Dalton, and Shawn were the pride of his life, each reflecting a facet of Sam's multifaceted personality. His granddaughters, Olivia and Cambria, and grandson, Hunter, were the apples of his eye, and his siblings, Andrew, Doug, and Jeannie, shared in the camaraderie that only siblings can. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, William Francis-Skinner Kennedy and Shiela Jean Kennedy, and his stepson, Triston Howard, with whom he's now sharing stories and a celestial brew.

Sam was the epitome of a modern-day renaissance man, equally at home with a wrench or a motherboard. Funny, generous, and intelligent are words that only scratch the surface of describing this larger-than-life character. His laughter was infectious, his wit sharp, and his heart, a boundless ocean of kindness.

To say that Sam will be missed is an understatement of comic proportions. He was the guy who could lighten any mood, fix any problem, and brew a beer that could make you forget your troubles. He was not just a man; he was a movement, a force of nature, a chuckle in the face of adversity.

As the curtains close on his memorable journey, let's remember Samuel William Kennedy not with sadness but with the joy he brought into our lives. Raise a glass, share a joke, and give a nod to the man who could probably build a stairway to heaven but would much rather take the elevator with a group of friends, just for the laughs. So, here's to Sam, a man who lived, loved, and left a trail of giggles and gizmos in his wake. May his memory continue to be a blueprint for a life well-lived and a reminder that the best things in life aren't things at all, but the moments we share with an extraordinary, ordinary hero like Sam