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John Kinner

April 29, 1932 - December 14, 2017
Portage, MI

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Age 85, passed away Thursday morning December 14, 2017. John was born April 29, 1932 in Chelsea, Michigan to Ralph and Ruth (Brooks) Kinner. John graduated from George Bentley High School in Livonia, MI and attended Michigan State University. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following his Army service, John returned to Michigan State and earned a Graduate Degree in Chemistry. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Vida (Vincenty) Kinner, who was studying to be a Nurse. Marrying after they both graduated, John worked for Ford Motor Company in Detroit before moving to the Kalamazoo area where he spent the rest of his life, working for the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company for 40 years before retiring. While at UpJohn, John was a team member of the Nobel Prize winning work done on prostaglandins by Sir John Vane. John was a brilliant man, with interests from bird watching to electronics, but his great hobby was trains. Having watched his father manage Ford's River Rouge railroad network, John developed a lifelong love of trains, chasing them across the country and becoming one of the first members of the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society. John was a true gentleman. A man of honor, fortitude, strength and compassion. He was beloved by his family as a wonderful father and uncle, and by all who knew him as a kind and gentle soul who never hesitated to help any who needed it. John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vida (Vincenty) Kinner on March 24, 2009; and a brother, David Kinner on October 16, 1988. He is survived by 2 children, Scott (Heidi) Kinner of Helena, MT and Ann Marie Fleming of Portage; 3 grandchildren, Tamara, Shelby and Kaitlyn Fleming; a great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be held 11 o'clock Wednesday at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 West Centre Ave. Visitation will be 4-7pm Tuesday at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. Private burial will take place in Fort Custer National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society. Please visit John's personalized webpage for directions, online guestbook, or to leave a condolence. www.langelands.com.