Barbara R. Kennedy

Barbara Renee Kennedy, age 68, of Zumbro Falls, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025, surrounded by family at her home. She was born on January 25, 1957, in Belmond, Iowa, to Craig and Virginia (Tillman) Larsson. The family moved from Iowa to Chicago in 1965 and landed in Minnesota in 1972 where Barb graduated from Mazeppa High School, married Daniel Muenkel and together had two children, later divorced and Barb married Howard, celebrating 35 years prior to his passing.

Barb worked as a waitress in several establishments including Pheasant Run in IL, Golden Fox and Fisherman’s Inn, MN before eventually partnering up with her mother, when they opened up Gin and Barb’s Broadway Cafe in Zumbro Falls in the 1980’s. This was home to the famous Friday night fish fry’s where the line could be seen leading out the door and down the sidewalk of customers waiting to get in. In addition to her work in the cafe, Barb also supporting her husband’s businesses, Kennedy Bus and Coaches by bookkeeping and tour-guiding.

A beacon of resilience and courage, Barbara shone brightly with her unshakeable determination and unwavering conviction.

As a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, her absence will be deeply felt, particularly in her cherished activities of gardening, home improvement projects, baking, riding horse, enjoying coffee with friends, sitting on the deck with her beloved dog, Millie, family gatherings up north, and winters spent in Texas.

She is survived by her children, Christen (Roger) Archer of Lake City and Kyle (Sarah) Muenkel of Zumbro Falls; stepchildren, Marilyn (Mike) Wiebusch of Rochester and Tim (Pam) Kennedy of Zumbro Falls; grandchildren, Cole Muenkel of Faribault, McKenna Meyer, Kylin, and Kale Muenkel of Zumbro Falls, along with her step-grandchildren, John Wiebusch, Mandy Kurth, Sara Blakstad, Christopher Kennedy; eight step great-grandchildren; two brothers, Steve (Debbie) Larsson of Marion, IL and Craig (Jonathan Campbell) Larsson Jr. of Minneapolis.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; brother, Joel Larsson; nephew, Eric Larsson.

Barb will be remembered as a selfless, devoted, wife, and mother, who always persevered no matter what challenges lay ahead. After being diagnosed with stage four cancer back in December 2024 until her passing into heaven, she lived every moment she was given with style, grace and dignity. She was a force to be reckoned with and dearly missed.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Mazeppa, with Reverend Alan Horn officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery – Bear Valley at a later date. Arrangements by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel