Jay Jeffrey Kennedy, 66, passed into the presence of the Lord on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Mercy Hospital ICU in Janesville, WI, surrounded by family. He was born on August 18, 1959, in Reedsburg, WI, the son of Harlen and Linda (Johnston) Kennedy.
Jay’s interest in farming and agriculture started at a young age. As a young boy, Jay loved helping with chores on his paternal and maternal grandparents' farms. He worked at several farms as a farmhand through his middle and high school years and into the early 1980s. When his parents moved and purchased an established rabbitry in 1973, Jay continued working with animals, helping the family raise over a thousand rabbits and guinea pigs, a few chickens, a couple of cows, and tending to the family’s massive garden. While on this farmette, Jay’s maternal grandfather, Melvin Johnston, gifted Jay a registered purebred Holstein, named Countess D Lovey. In addition to keeping the family supplied with milk, Jay went on to show his prize cow at county fairs, earning him a few blue ribbons.
After graduating from Albany High School in 1977, Jay attended UW-Madison to pursue a degree in criminology, with the goal of working for the FBI one day. He later changed course and set his sights on an agriculture education degree.
During college, Jay worked part-time in a laboratory and animal supply facility in Oregon, WI. After being promoted to Plant Manager, Jay moved to O’Fallon, MO, and later to Omaha, NE, where he served as plant manager at similar facilities that bred and raised rats, mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs for the research industry. In 1990, Jay moved back to Wisconsin and, together with his brother Todd and his parents, created a family business, 4K Animal Supply, raising rats and mice for laboratories, pet stores, zoos, hospitals, and colleges across the country. Later, Jay renamed the company Pied Piper Animal Supply and was the sole owner until closing it in 1995.
By 1994, Jay’s desire to teach agriculture was pulling at his heartstrings, and he returned to college to resume his undergrad studies at UW-Madison, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education in 1996. He completed his student teaching at Juda School District in Juda, Wis., under the mentorship of Ag Instructor and FFA Advisor Ralph Johnson. Mr. J and Jay quickly formed a close-knit friendship that evolved into a lifelong brotherhood.
In 1997, Jay landed his first teaching job at Deforest High School, where he was awarded the Teacher of the Year. In 2000, after teaching three years at Deforest School, Jay accepted an ag education position at Parkview Schools in Orfordville, Wis. For nearly 13 years, Jay had the privilege of teaching agriculture, small engine repair, welding, building construction, horticulture, animal vet science, agribusiness, leadership, and much more. He was also the FFA Advisor and mentored many classes of students, many of whom stayed in touch over the years. As he never had any children of his own, his students were like his kids, and he cherished every one of them. Unfortunately, Jay was forced into early retirement in 2013 due to multiple medical issues.
After retirement, Jay pitched in to help with the Morning Sun Care Home, an adult CBRF that his mother founded in 1979. Jay later became licensed as the group home’s administrator and found ways to mentor the residents, as he had done with his many students.
Jay was an avid sports fan. His dad used to say that Jay would find joy in watching two flies fight if it were a sport. During retirement, Jay found purpose in writing and co-administering the Milwaukee Brewers Rant Facebook Page, where he shared sports commentary on everything Brewers. In addition to the Milwaukee Brewers, Jay rarely missed watching the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, or Milwaukee Bucks games. He was proud of his Wisconsin teams' successes, including the successes of his fantasy football league with his friend Ralph. Jay loved collecting sports memorabilia, including bobbleheads and framed cards. He especially found joy in his autographed Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Green Bay Packers football. One of the highlights of Jay’s life is meeting the legendary Bob Ueker, who served as the play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Following gallbladder surgery in January 2024, Jay required rehabilitation at a nursing home. Due to his complex medical history, Jay would go on to spend the next 2.5 years of his life as a resident in seven nursing homes and an inpatient at eight hospital systems. At nearly every nursing home and hospital, Jay encountered multiple former Parkview students who had gone into the healthcare field. Being able to catch up with his students was always the highlight of his many stays.
For most of his life, Jay attended the Brodhead Gospel Hall with his family and fellow Christians. On October 10, 1990, Jay accepted the Lord as his personal Savior, which sealed his forever Home at the feet of his Lord and gave him assurance that one day, when his life was over on this earth, he’d have life eternal with Jesus forevermore.
Jay is survived by his mother, Linda Kennedy of Brodhead; his sisters, Pam (Rick) Wollin of Brodhead, Mindy Allen of Juda, and Loreeli (Bryan) Swoboda of Brodhead; his brother, Nathan (Jamie) Kennedy of Galesburg, IL, and his sister-in-law, Tera Kennedy of Albany. He is further survived by nieces and nephews, Brad (Brenda) Wollin of Reedsburg, Kelli Wollin of Reedsburg, Brandon (Nikki) Wollin of Janesville, Brent (Abby) Wollin of Brodhead, Jon (Chelsea) Kennedy of Evansville, Ashley Kennedy of Monticello, Trish Allen of Monroe, Janna (Josh) Merritt of Monroe, Tara (Brandon) Harder of Monroe, Sierra Swoboda of Brodhead, Jessica Thrun of Janesville, Alycia Swoboda of Brodhead, Brianna Hadley of Brodhead, Chloe Hadley of Monroe, and Garrett Hadley of Brodhead, as well as many great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Jay was preceded in death by his father, Harlen, in 2003; brother, Todd Kennedy, in 2022; sister, Johanna Hadley, in 2009; sisters-in-law, Lisa Kutzleb Kennedy, in 1996, and Lisa Foss Kennedy, in 2014; paternal grandparents, Calvin and Doris Kennedy of Ontario, Wis.; and maternal grandparents, Melvin and Virginia Johnston of Lime Ridge, Wis.
Visitation will be held Thursday evening, July 16, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Albany Lions Club in Albany, Wis. Funeral services, officiated by Jerry Jennings, will be held Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Albany Lions Club. A visitation will also be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service on Friday. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead. The D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family in Jay’s memory. In honor of Jay’s love for Wisconsin sports, guests attending the Thursday evening visitation are encouraged to wear Milwaukee Brewers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Bucks, or Green Bay Packers apparel.
Jay was a beautiful, genuine soul, and a bright light in our family. He gave generously to everyone. No matter what health struggles he faced, he never lost his fighting spirit. He was full of positivity, laughter, and jokes. He loved hearing about everyone’s lives and loved reminiscing about old times. Our family is comforted by the peace of knowing Jay has a new body, is pain-free, and is with his Lord and Savior, because he believed in Jesus’ finished work on the cross and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior in 1990. Jay, until we are reunited, we will keep you alive in our hearts by sharing our stories and memories of you, and we will love you forever. We know that you are gathered with the Angels and the Saints around the throne of Jesus, reunited with our loved ones we have lost. We have peace knowing you are suffering no more, and the only Scars in Heaven are on the One who holds you now.
