Stephen Andrew "Steve" Kinser

Stephen "Steve" Andrew Kinser

Stephen "Steve" Andrew Kinser of Fort Collins, CO, passed away October 31, 2024. He was born December 23, 1986, in Rock Island, IL, to John and Diane Kinser. Friends and family describe him as kind, generous, hard-working, and always ready to help, with a sharp wit and an ability to connect with anyone. At any time, he might surprise you with a phone call and a funny story.

Stephen graduated with honors from Rock Island High School before continuing his education at the University of Illinois, where his passion for cooking was sparked while working in a family-owned Italian restaurant. Continuing with this new curiosity, he attended Scott Community College to sharpen his culinary arts. After a myriad of restaurants, experience, and stories, he set off for Colorado in 2017.

Working in Vail and Keystone at several restaurants and ski resorts, he eventually moved to Fort Collins to join the Ciao! Mobile Pizzeria team in 2023. This passion consumed him and Stephen was often found helping out fellow food truck businesses in his spare time. Special thanks to Joe Zeppy's, Steamy Weiners, and Shells on Wheels for allowing him to provide insight, laughs, hard work, and memories to share.

Whether it be sourcing, prepping, cooking, creating, burning, botching, experimenting, serving, and of course, eating, Stephen loved all aspects of the culinary field.

Stephen is survived by his parents, John and Diane; sister, Sonja (Alex Henry); grandma, Jeanette Akin; uncle, Doug (Cheryl) Akin; cousins, Brooke (Derrick) Hendrickx (second cousins Zach and Josh), Rob Akin, and Kari (Tyler) Anderson (second cousins Kai and Eli). Stephen was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ruth and Lonnie Kinser, and Bob Akin.

Stephen is also survived by his Fort Collins family: Dan, Jenn, Ann, Fitts, Joy, Nick, Emily, and Squeakers the cat.

Memorials may be made to NEST Cafe, a pay-what-you-can cafe, in Stephen's hometown, at 1524 4th Ave Rock Island, IL 61201, or online at nestcafeqc.org. A celebration of life visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with a memorial service starting at 2 p.m., at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory Knox Chapel, 2106 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.wheelanpressly.com.