Kenneth Wayne Kinzel

On Monday, October 14, 2019, Kenneth Wayne Kinzel passed away at home in Meridian, Idaho, with his family surrounding him.

Ken was born on December 29, 1932, in Oakhurst, Illinois, to Walter and Frieda Kinzel. Ken had an older brother, Walter, and a younger brother, Richard. He also had an infant sister Shirley that died shortly after her birth. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and as a teenager entered the Navy. Ken served on the USS Surfbird and USS Courier, which were minesweeper ships during the Korean War. Ken joined the LDS church while in the Navy. When he left the Navy, he served a full-time mission in Germany. After his mission, he moved to Utah and attended Utah State University. At Utah State, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering, but more importantly, he met and married his wife of over 60 years, Judith Rich Kinzel. Ken and Judy had five children, all sons: Christopher, Gregory, Timothy, Kevin and Michael.

Ken had a passion for all things automotive and always had at least one, if not several, classic cars. He loved to work and to serve in the church. Ken worked as a fleet manager for several trucking companies before he struck out on his own and owned small businesses. In recent years, Ken and Judy served as missionaries for the church as well as full-time temple workers in the Boise and Meridian temples. Ken was known for a lifetime of service and helping others.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Frieda, his older brother, Walter, and sister, Shirley. He is survived by his wife, Judith, and his five sons, Christopher (Becky), Gregory, Timothy (Becky), Kevin, and Michael (Keri). He also has nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held on Friday, October 18, 2019, 11:00am, at the LDS chapel located at 3775 E. Ustick Rd., Meridian. There will be a viewing at 10:00am and an internment at the Pioneer Cemetery on Warm Springs Road in Boise after the funeral.