Kenefick Jr., Thomas 'Tom' William

Thomas “Tom” William Kenefick Jr., 76, of Iowa City, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at home following a long illness. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Father John Spiegel officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either Mercy Hospital Foundation for Cancer Care or Iowa City Hospice.

Tom was born Aug. 28, 1936, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Ethel (Keller) Kenefick. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in Eagle Grove, Iowa. Tom attended the University of Iowa and graduated from the U I School of Pharmacy in 1958 as president of the senior pharmacy class. Tom met his wife, Betsy Gill, while attending the University of Iowa.

On Jan. 3, 1959, Tom and Betsy were married in Sioux City, Iowa. For 24 years, they lived in Eagle Grove, where Tom worked at and subsequently owned his family pharmacy, Kenefick Drug Store, established in 1911. In 1983, he and Betsy moved to Iowa City. Tom continued to work at various pharmacies around Iowa City until December 2012.

Tom was a member of St. Mary's Church, a board member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association, representing the College of Pharmacy from 1978-1983; a board member of Iowa Plus, a member of the Johnson County I-Club and a life long member of the Iowa Pharmacist Association. In 2010, he was appointed by the Governor of Iowa to the State Board of Nursing Home Administrators.

Survivors include his daughters, Tracy (Gary) Frakes of Iowa City and Pat (Steve) Manus of Chicago; his grandchildren, Tom and Jack Frakes, both of Iowa City, and Molly and Michael Manus, both of Chicago; his brother, Dennis (Nancy) of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Betsy and his parents.

Online condolences may be sent at www.lensingfuneral.com

Published March 1, 2013 in The Gazette