J Howard Kinney

Howard Kinney, 80, of Monmouth, died at 11:00 pm Tuesday December 20, 2011 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois with his family at his side. He was born April 3, 1931 in Monmouth, Illinois and is the son of Frank and Esther Brownlee Kinney. Growing up on the farm near Little York, he graduated from Little York High School in 1949. Entering military service in 1952, he saw action in Korea with an artillery battery that supported the infantry. His discharge took place on September 30, 1953. Encouraged by Jack McBride, he enrolled at Reedley Junior College in Reedley, California. Afterward he continued his education at the University of Idaho where he received his B.S. in Political Science in 1961. On November 4, 1961 he married Cheryl Fisher at Immaculate Conception Church in Monmouth, and she survives. Howard began working for the U.S. Government at the ASCS Office in Aledo in 1961, where he became the office manager that November. He was appointed District Director of ASCS of Northwestern Illinois in April of 1963. He continued in that position, supervising the operations of eight to eighteen county offices and their committees until his retirement in October of 1996. Growing up he helped on the family farm, and after his father's retirement he and his brother Harold continued its management. While in high school he participated in basketball and softball. Afterwards "Hack" continued to play softball and baseball on local teams. For a short time in 1951 he played professional baseball for the Tifton Blue Sox of the ClassD Georgia-Florida League. Howard is survived by his wife Cheryl Kinney of Monmouth, one daughter Kimberly (Chris) Horner of Greeneville, TN; two sons John (Angie) Kinney of Sherman, IL; and Jeff (Christy) Kinney of Winston, GA.; eight grandchildren, Kelsey, Kaitlyn, and Carley Horner, Drew, Hannah, Hallie, Wyatt, and Weston Kinney. Also surviving are sisters, Ruth Kinney of Monmouth, IL; Marian Hand of Columbus, OH; and Melba (Bill) Rogoway of Portola Valley, CA. and brother Harold (Colleen) Kinney of Monmouth, IL. Howards brother in law Bill (Cathy) Fisher of Kirkwood, Illinois also is surviving. He is preceeded in death by his parents, brother Gerald, and brother in law, George Hand. Services:A mass of the resurrection is planned for Wednesday December 28, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Church of Monmouth at 10:00 am. Interment with military honors will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. A rosary will be recited on Tuesday evening at 5:00pm and his family plans to receive friends following the rosary service at Turnbull Funeral Home. A memorial fund is established for either Immaculate Conception School or Lake Warren.