Lewis George Kinsinger

Lewis George Kinsinger, son of the late William A. and Mary Ann (Sherbon) Kinsinger, was born on May 1, 1922, the third of five children on a farm near Grundy Center, IA, and departed this life on April 30, 2020 at Lake Parke Senior Living, Camdenton, MO. At his passing, he was 97 years, 11 months and 29 days of age. George grew up helping his parents and siblings farm in Grundy County. The family moved to Williams, IA, when he was 16 yrs. After earning his high school diploma from Williams High School in 1940, he went to work as a mechanic in Williams, IA. In January, 1945, during WWII, he was drafted into the US Army, where he earned the rank of Corporal Radar Operator for the US Coast Artillery. He was honorably discharged at the end of the war in 1946. George’s love of his life, Mary Louise Barrick, lived on a neighboring farm near Williams, IA. They were united in marriage in Hampton, IA, (Franklin County), on June 6, 1948. Together the couple welcomed three children into their family. They moved to Grundy Center, IA, after they were married and George worked as a bookkeeper for Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, IA. But a short time after, George had an opportunity to pursue his passion for farming, and the family moved to a farm southwest of Grundy Center, where he began his life’s work. In 1955, George moved his family again to a larger farm northwest of Grundy Center near Wellsburg, where he ardently and proudly farmed seed corn, beans and alfalfa as well as raising hogs and feeding cattle for 45 years. George and his family were members of Colfax Center Presbyterian Church in Holland, IA, and the couple attended there for nearly 40 years. George liked to explore the US, and the family would take summer road trips to new adventures in Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois and Michigan or along the East Coast. Later, George and Mary became snowbirds staying in Pensacola, FL, and western Texas for the winters. After retiring at age 79, George and Mary moved to Camdenton, MO, where for 16 years they enjoyed a view of the Lake of the Ozarks out of their kitchen window. They grew to love the small rural-like community of the lake. In 2016, George lost his beloved wife Mary. After her death, he decided to become one of the first residents of the new Lake Parke Senior Living in Camdenton, MO. During his life at Lake Parke, George became an inspiration to all who met him and always provided a huge loving hug to everyone, young and old. He was the kind of person who could manage and do whatever was put in front of him, having a knack for using tools and repairing anything broken. He was always ready and able to help his neighbors, friends and his family, whom he loved very dearly. George was preceded in passing by his parents William A. and Mary Ann (Sherbon) Kinsinger; his three brothers Vernon, Wayne and Marlyn; his sister Dorothy (Kinsinger) Trampel; his young grandson Matthew Miller, and his wife of 68 years, Mary. George will be missed by his three children, Cynthia Willson and Cheryl Miller both of Peoria, AZ, and Douglas Kinsinger of Topeka, KS. He also leaves behind two sons-in-law, (Gary Willson and Mark Miller); a daughter-in-law (Rebecca (Whitmire) Kinsinger); four grandchildren (Jeremy Willson of Overland Park, KS, married to Elle (Tzvetanova) Willson; Jennifer (Miller) Leu of Newport Beach, CA, married to Adam Leu; Adam Kinsinger of Sherman Oaks, CA, and Alex Kinsinger of Lenexa, KS) and three great grandchildren (Brandon and Nathan Willson and Sebastian Leu). He is survived also by many nieces and nephews.