Lionel Kinzel

Lionel “Leo” Kinzel

Lionel “Leo” Edward Kinzel passed away at home surrounded by his family on June 10, 2014.

He was born to Corrine and August Kinzel on December, 14th, 1931, in Hibbing MN.  He grew up in Utica Location and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1950.  He was united in marriage to Ruth Joyce Britt on June 27th, 1950.   He worked for Hibbing Van Lines and the Sherman mine before working for at Minntac for US Steel as a pit foreman until his retirement in 1992.

During high school, he was a standout basketball player.  He was fondly referred to as “sparkplug.”  He was member of the Elks Lodge.  He was also an avid curler.  He participated in many bonspiels including the senior bonspiels.  He also was a great bowler.  He also had a passion for bocce ball.  He served as president of the Hibbing Bocce League.  Even after he became legally blind, he managed to still play the sport that he loved.  He also liked to travel to the casino with his “birthday club.”  He loved to play cards including poker and cribbage.  In the day, holiday family gatherings would result in the men sitting down to play poker.  He liked to go fishing and spent a lot of time at Sioux Narrows or Rainy Lake.  Most of all he enjoyed his family as much as they enjoyed him.

He is survived by daughters Kathy (Rich Cummings) Hilde and Lisa (Dan) Shea; granddaughters Amy (Tom) Hilde-Philips and Jenny (Ray) Davidson; grandsons: Patrick and Nickolas Shea; great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Mathew, and Chancellor Philips, Nathan, Lucas and Sophie Davidson;  a sister, Luella (Richard) Keseley; a brother, Fred Kinzel; brothers in-law Joe Berklich and Mike Doyle; a sister in-law, Sandy Britt;  numerous nieces and nephews;  and also special friend,  Arlene Hattam, who   was a faithful companion during the last several years. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ruth; by his parents, August and Corrine; by his brothers: Francis “Spike”, Robert, Leroy, Dean, Jim and Clayton;  and sisters Lorraine and twin sister Lois.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Fairview Hospice and the wonderful nurses Jeanne, Jean, Gus and Jessica and aides Stacy and Heidi along with Dr. Jeff Copeman.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 16th, 2014,  at 11am with visitation the hour before at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing.
Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing.  To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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