Jean A. Kennerly

Jean Kennerly ObituaryVisit the Olson Funeral and Cremation Services, Fred C. Olson Chapel - Rockford website to view the full obituary.Jean A. Kennerly, 92, of Rockford, Ill., passed away Friday, February 27, 2026. Jean was born July 25, 1933, in Britton, South Dakota, the daughter of Arthur and Dena (Eikamp) Kilker. She grew up on a farm near Britton, attended a one-room rural school for eight years, graduated from Britton High School, and received a B.A. with high honors in English and mathematics from Huron College. After teaching English, math, and journalism at Madison and Watertown high schools in South Dakota, she earned an M.A. at the University of Nebraska.Jean and Frederick L. Kennerly were united in marriage in Britton in 1960 and then moved to Rockford, where both were employed by the Rockford Public Schools. After their two daughters were born, Jean worked five years for AAA Chicago Motor Club and twenty-three years for H&R Block.In 1974, the Kennerly family joined the Blackhawk Bicycle Club, and from that time, bicycling remained a major activity for Jean, who rode several thousand miles each year on club-sponsored rides each week and riding self-contained, first with the family and then with her husband, to various locations around the country, including several times to her home town; Columbus, OH; Kansas City, MO; Duluth, MN; Niagara Falls; and the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as in Germany and Austria.Jean is survived by her husband of 65 years; her daughters, Sheila (Tom) Felder of Loves Park, and Sheri Kennerly of Rockford; two granddaughters, Madeleine (Nick) Leeson of East Stroudsburg, PA and Natalie Felder of Rockford; brother-in-law, Robert Stalcup of Blacksburg, VA; two nieces, Betty Jean (John) Maus of California and Sharon (David) Irvin of Nebraska; two nephews, Boyd (LeAnn) Kilker of South Dakota and Scott (Nancy) Stalcup of Virginia; and other relatives, especially in Britton, SD.She was predeceased by her parents; brother, Archie; and two sisters, Lois Arlee Kilker, who died as a small child, and Donna Lou Stalcup.A Celebration of Life will be held in Rockford, IL on Saturday, April 11 at Klehm Arboretum at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Special Olympics of Illinois or to a scholarship fund being established for Britton High School. To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.olsonfh.com.Read The Full ObituaryTo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.