He was born on Feb. 13, 1925, at Attica to Olin Joseph and Jeanetta Elizabeth (Hoyt) Kinzer. He grew up at Attica and attended school there before moving to Parsons during his senior year of high school. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1943.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He learned how to operate heavy equipment while in the Army, making roads and air landing strips in the Pacific islands.
He married Wilma Diehl on Oct. 24, 1943, at Parsons. She preceded him in death on April 29, 2004.
He returned to Parsons in March 1946 following his military service and worked for Meadow Gold, Labette County and several different highway companies before working at Hartwell Construction as a heavy equipment operator for many years. He retired in 1984.
He was a very active and faithful member of First Assembly of God Church in Parsons. He served the church in many roles, including as a church choir member, Sunday school teacher, janitor, church treasurer and church board member.
Survivors include a son, Donald Kinzer, and his wife, Sarah, of Magnolia, Texas; a daughter, Marcia McCombs of Parsons; three granddaughters, Kim Nading and Janet Brewer, both of Parsons, and Maria Allen of Liberty, Texas; two grandsons, Darin Vaughn of Cherryvale and Jason Kinzer, U.S. Air Force, London; 13 great-grandchildren, Kayla Minor, Cody Nading, Benjamin Brewer, Jessica Brewer, Samuel Brewer, Kolby Vaughn, Maddison Vaughn, Morgan Vaughn, Micha Vaughn, Caleb Allen, Taylor Allen, William Kinzer and Rachel Kinzer; three great-great-grandsons, Darrell, Conner, and Marshall Minor, of whom he was very proud; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; his companion and friend, Vera Hubbard; his brother, Paul Kinzer of Claremore, Okla.; and his sister, Jewell Shields of Northglen, Colo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Rex Kinzer; and two sisters, Margaret Brooks and Marva Jean Vanzant.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors conducted by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to First Assembly of God Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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