James (“Big Jim”) Daniel Kennelly, 78, of La Quinta, CA died Friday August 30th at his Bemidji lake home.
A Celebration of Life will be held on September 20th from 5:00-7:00pm at Bemidji Town and Country Club.
James (Jim) Daniel Kennelly was born on August 6, 1946, in Cresco, IA to Joseph Daniel Kennelly and Eloise (Kjervestad) Kennelly. His family, including five siblings, moved to southern California where he attended Servite High School. He was drafted into the army where he went through basic training and officer candidate school and ultimately served as a lieutenant. While serving in the Army, he met Jayne (Jacobi) Kennelly in Colorado. Upon completing his military service, they moved to southern California and were married. Jim completed his college education obtaining a degree in accounting from Long Beach State University and worked in sales for IBM. They moved their young family to Grand Forks, ND in 1975. In 1977, Jim purchased Grand Forks Grocery Company which he later re-branded to GFG Foodservice. He led GFG Foodservice as CEO through tremendous growth and expansion before ultimately selling to US Foodservice in 2000. He spent his retirement years golfing and being with grandkids in La Quinta, CA and Bemidji, MN where he had many friends.
Jim is known for being a visionary and for his caring and direct connections with people. He always liked to “go deep” in conversation and influenced many lives as a mentor, friend, and colleague. He loved to spend time with family and friends discussing life, goals, philosophies, and beliefs. Jim will be missed but his mark on the lives he touched will stay with us all.
He is survived by his two sons, J.D. (Lisa) Kennelly and Chris (Sheila) Kennelly, five grandchildren, Paige, Brooke, Joey, Griffin, and Miles, and four siblings, Ann Montgomery, Jane Kennelly, John Kennelly, and Mary Kennelly.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Eloise Kennelly, and his sister Kate Kennelly.
www.OlsonSchwartzFuneralHome.com