Name: Service for John E. Kinsey
Start: 2020-06-23T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2020-06-23T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Herman-Taylor Funeral Home - Wisconsin Rapids

John E. Kinsey

Wisconsin Rapids - John Everett Kinsey

John was born June 11, 1935 to the late Frances Fuller Kinsey and Maurice Everett Kinsey in Shelton, WA. He passed away peacefully at home in Wisconsin Rapids surrounded by his family and friends on June 11, 2020. John was predeceased by his older brother Charles and survived by his sister Kathryne Ann Kinsey of Oakland California. He graduated High School in Briar Cliff Manor, NY. He earned a chemistry degree from Wabash College. He earned his MBA and chemical engineering degree from Northwestern University. While in Chicago he worked at Western Electric.

Consolidated Papers brought John to Wisconsin Rapids. John met his first wife while golfing at Bulls Eye Country Club. Karen Michelle Olson and John Kinsey were married in 1967. Together they had two children. Scott Kinsey of Calumet, Michigan and Kim Kinsey (Kerry Sparks) Wisconsin Rapids. They enjoyed gardening, curling, cutting wood and many other fun activities with their numerous friends. Together they were instrumental in building the Tri-City Curling Club. Karen Kinsey passed away in 1996. 2001 John was united in marriage to Joan Davis. Together they traveled the world and enjoyed the arts.

John retired from CPI in 1998. After exploring several retirement options John chose Wisconsin Rapids as his retirement community. He enjoyed his friends and flourished in his community volunteer pursuits. He was an active member of noon Rotary, Tri-City Curling Club and St. John's Episcopal Church. John was an artist and expressed his artistic talents through drawing as well as sharing his love of cooking and gardening for many causes. John was an excellent cook and took great pride in orchestrating dinner parties. He enjoyed canning and freezing veggies from his bountiful gardens. Every Christmas he made Stollen for neighbors and friends. He was a connoisseur of fine whiskeys and was known for sharing an after-dinner drink with friends and family on the porch. John was also very proud of his Grandsons Spencer and Andrew Sparks. His physical limitations prevented him from attending their sports however he was always interested in their activities and many accomplishments.

John is survived by stepsons Michael Lyons of Wisconsin Rapids and Johnathan Lyons of Chicago and Kathy (Bob) Dean of Boise, Idaho, step granddaughter Stephanie (Steven) LaRose of Whiting, WI., nephews Teddy and (Mary) Olson, Wisconsin Rapids, Michael (Lisa) Olson, Wisconsin Rapids, David Weinberg, Buffalo, New York. Nieces Kathy (Francois) Nguyen of St. Paul, Minnesota and Sue Weinberg of Oakland California, Kristin (Rob) Chartier of Oshkosh, WI.

Visitation will be at the Herman Taylor Funeral Home from 12-2 on Tuesday, June 23rd with a service officiated by Father David Klutterman immediately following the visitation. Friends and family are welcome to attend with social distancing guidelines in place.

John's family would like to thank Heartland Hospice for their kind, compassionate and speedy services as well as Synergy Home Health Care for providing us with the wonderful caregiver, Pam Schmidt, for the past two months. Polly Gruetzmacher was so much more than a cleaning lady… Thank you for being there when we could not.

Memorials can be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, Wisconsin Rapids.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune from Jun. 17 to Jun. 19, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for John Kinsey

Sponsored by Herman-Taylor Funeral Home - Wisconsin Rapids.

9 Entries

Amy Weisner

June 25, 2020

John Kinsey was my cousin. His mother, Frances Fuller Kinsey was my mother, Betty Fuller Wilder's oldest sister. There was a 17 year age difference between our mothers and a 20 year age difference between John and I so with the age difference and the miles - he in the mid-west and me on the west coast, we didn't see a lot of each other but I have wonderful memories of time at our grandfather home in Hood River, Oregon. John smiling and laughing, playing with these little cousins, my two older brothers and taking them fishing. My oldest brother, Bill remembers John teaching him to fly fish, something he still enjoys today. The pictures of John and my brothers getting the gear together, packing it in the car, John on the river casting off are all in my "minds eye" now as the originals were on tape that is sadly lost. I also remember our grandfather teaching us how to play poker so I have to think John must have been in on that too...
The last time I saw John was when Frances was leaving us. I took my mother to Kathryne Ann's in Pinehurst so we could see Frances in her final week. On my mother's 80th birthday John, Kathryne Ann & I took Mom out to dinner for great food, and lots of laughs. That ended up being my last dinner with John too.
So my cousin, John I see you with your dad, my most beloved Uncle Maurice, and my cousin, Charles who I sadly never met...I see you three healthy and smiling, fishing on a glorious river with Aunt Frances reading a wonderful book, smiling on the river's edge waiting with drinks and something delicious to eat.
Amy Wilder Weisner

Bill Wilder

June 25, 2020

Kim, I have to add a story I have had in memory for years. Frances and her sister, my mother, Betty would spend several summers in Hood River. On one trip about 1960 [give or take a year or two] John, age 25 or so, led me, age 10 and my Dad age 40 on a fishing trip, god knows where outside of hood river... [But now that I know the area better it had to be a drive up the North side of Mt Hood.]
Dad drove but I'm sure he didn't have any idea what he was getting in for. I remember his 1956 Chevy and John leading the way. Up and up the dirt road is getting narrower and steeper, but 25 yr olds have no fear, particularly when it's not their car. As Dad inched his way up, John sat on the headlamp/hood and would jump off and move the basket ball size rocks. The next thing I remember is sitting on a log on a mountain stream doing exactly what John said. I flipped the fly out [no casting needed, about a 20 foot wide pool] and then I watched something that has stayed with me for the next 60 years of my fishing. A huge trout [Huge ?, I was ten] came from the shadows and I watched as it took the fly - And I set the hook with perfect timing. John and Dad were proud.
I read your stories, yes, he did go fishing in his younger days I guess.
Best Wishes, Bill Wilder

Kathryne Nguyen

June 21, 2020

The thing I remember most about Uncle John was his wonderful big laugh. He always liked to entertain and have a good time. We enjoyed many dinners cooked by him including beef satay which was Francois' favorite. His stories were always very interesting because he loved to travel and read. He had a very artistic side with his cooking and painting and a more logical side with his job and his love of history. It was always so much fun visiting, talking, sitting by the pool, watching the river, and relaxing. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Love Kathy, Francois, and Family

Pamela Schmidt

June 21, 2020

It was my distinct privilege and honor to be John's primary caregiver for the last two-plus months. During this short time he impacted my life in a positive way as I'm sure he has so many others. I miss his hearty and consistently cheery "Good morning Pam!", upon entry to his beautiful home while his beloved classical music played. I learned to enjoy the fact that John liked things done in his time-tested specific ways. Even at this period of his life, he lived with structure, adhering very closely to his designed schedule. He appreciated my sewing, cooking, shopping, singing, and the personal care I gave him. He frequently bragged about the covid-19 haircut I gave him. Because of him I learned that soft boiled eggs, toast and whole green chiles were an EXCELLENT breakfast, which on many occasions he insisted on preparing for us both. He devoured books, always preferring them to a movie. He said TV was mindless entertainment, and if you knew John, you knew he loved to use his mind. Because of my duties feeding the birds drawn to his backyard on the Wisconsin River, my knowledge of, and enthusiasm for our native birds increased significantly. He taught me that a consultant was someone who borrowed your watch to tell you the time, hahaha... He knew the name of each flower I would bring. He appreciated the simple things in life as well as the complexities of it. I miss his intelligence, wit, dry humor, sense of duty, attention to detail and our conversations. It was apparent how much he loved his family and took every opportunity to sing their laurels. My sympathies are with you all, as you know, and I want you to know how blessed I am to have worked with him and with you. Blessings and love to you all...I will continue to keep you in my prayers as you adjust to life without his physical presence

Kathryne Ann Kinsey

June 21, 2020

It is only natural in this world of fleeting relationships that few last for almost one's whole life. But, in this situation my big brother was a constant in mine for eighty-two years. I could always count on him for support and counsel. He was there to listen and encourage. And we all remember his great big bear hugs.
There was so much that was "large" about John, and yet what I want to remember is his artistic side: helping me learn the art of tying flies on a small hook, his beefy fingers showing me how to weave brightly colored threads into a lure that would entice a trout in a mountain stream. How we both enjoyed classical music and encouraged each other to keep that a prime focus as our main entertainment. And lastly, how I always appreciated what ever artwork he was working on and loved receiving any of John's finished projects.
Yes, I shall miss him terribly, but he has gone to meet and celebrate with all the other loved ones who are waiting just beyond the pale.
I love you, Big Brother,
Kathryne Ann

Shirley Jung

June 20, 2020

Kim, my sympathies in the loss of your father. Sending prayers to comfort you through these difficult times.

Pamela Schmidt

June 20, 2020

Deberah Earle

Planted Trees

Wendy Hughson

June 19, 2020

I have many fond memories of John and Karen bringing kids, hors d'oeuvres and libations to our pool many summer days and evenings! It was always a delight to share stories and food with the Kinseys! John will be missed. However, I think of the Kinseys and Hughsons being together again swimming, lounging,
and enjoying a cocktail (or two)!

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