Joseph Killinger

Joseph Theodore "Ted" Killinger, 93, of Midland, passed away Jan. 13, 2019 at Cascades in Midland. Ted was born Sept. 1, 1925 in Glidden, Wis., the first child of Joseph and Dingena (Zeestraten) Killinger. He was a 1943 graduate of Dearborn High School in Dearborn, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation. After the war, Ted joined the Michigan National Guard in Owosso and served as a first lieutenant in Company I, 125th Infantry Division. Ted moved to Midland to assume the management of the Gamble Skogmo store. An opportunity to accept employment at The Dow Chemical Co. presented itself and Ted was with Dow for the remainder of his working career. War had interrupted his education, so Ted took the opportunity to return to the classroom in his 70s and was awarded his bachelor's degree as one of the oldest students in that school. Ted married the former Mercedes Patricia Keller of Coldwater and she preceded him in death in 1969. He married the former Betty Ridge of St. Johns, Mich. in November of 1977 and Betty preceded him in death in August of 2010.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, James F. Killinger of Owosso. James passed while in service in the Michigan National Guard Infantry Co. in Owosso. While in the employ of Dow Chemical, Ted was active in the Big Brother program in Midland.

He will be remembered by his brother, Louis K. Killinger (Janet); his brother, Bernard L. Killinger of Hastings; his sister, Mary Killinger Weeks of Michigan; and brother, Anton D. Killinger of Texas. He is listed in the Library of Congress as the author of the book, "Sibling Reveries," which was co-authored by his brothers and sister. Ted had the gift of the story teller, and his siblings remember that as a child in Northern Wisconsin during the Great Depression, he often entertained them with stories of his own creation and the stories, like the "Thousand and One Nights," had no ending. He had a phenomenal memory and could recall for them the names of the heroes and heroines of his fantastic tales many years after the telling.

The funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 at St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church, 207 Ashman St., with Father T.J. Fleming as celebrant. Ted's family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of the Liturgy. Burial will take place in New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church. Funeral arrangements for Ted have been entrusted to the care of Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Directors.