Richard “Dick” Kinsey was born on July 10, 1924 in Chelsea, MI. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Thompson) Kinsey and the youngest of four siblings, Matt, Peg and Tom. Dick’s mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by his immigrant father and his 14 years-older sister Ivy M. “Peg” (Kinsey) Pierce during “the Great Depression.”
Dick was a 1942 graduate of Chelsea High School and served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations with the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division from Omaha Beach on D+3 through the Battle of St. Lo. He was severely wounded in combat operations in Normandy on August 17, 1944 and may have been one of the first soldiers medically evacuated by aircraft back to England.
After returning from the war he met the love of his life, Ileen Fay (Loeffler) Kinsey who he married in 1947 and remained married until her death in 2014. Dick and Ileen moved to Ann Arbor and had three children Karna, Kathy and Rich.
Dick was always on the move, a worker and a saver. He began working in onion marshes north of Chelsea at about 10 years-old and held various jobs until finding a job he loved selling beer for O & W Inc. There he was a beer truck driver/salesman for 17 years and rose to Sales Manager for the rest of his 36 year career. Dick loved people and found his niche selling beer.
In later life he loved vacationing with his wife Ileen and spending time with his family at his home on North Lake. If you ever went to dinner with this tough old WWII vet with a heart of gold, you were in for a fight if you tried to pick up the tab. He loved to eat, drink and be merry virtually until the day he died. He would not, however, play bingo!
Dick was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who always put family first. Dick was the beloved father of Karna (Randy) Piebenga of Haslett, Kathy (Russ Ferguson) Kinsey of Ann Arbor and Rich (Toni) Kinsey of Chelsea. He was a wise, fun-loving grandfather--who could be trusted with a secret--to five grandchildren: Robert Brandt of Dewitt, Chris (Toni) Chambers of Ann Arbor, Stacey (Rachel Hudson) Chambers of Decatur, GA, Rick (Ashlee) Kinsey of Vulcan, and Peter Kinsey of Traverse City. Dick was a great-grandfather to Nicholas, Jacob and Tyler Brandt all of DeWitt. He was a loving uncle to Shirley, Lois and Betty. He was the Godfather of Frank (Denise) Moore of England—who he became very close with especially later in life.
Dick will be missed by his family and all who knew him for his quick wit, great stories, big smile and generous nature. He was an outstanding example to his family of what a “good man” should be. Dick’s life was an embodiment of—as he joked 50 years ago—“Another job, well done, by your friendly Strohman.”
The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Silver Maples, the care givers of Synergy and Arbor Hospice for their outstanding care but more importantly for the love he felt while being cared for. A special thanks to “Bertie” for her kind words and service keeping the feisty old vet in line during some long nights toward the end.
Cremation has taken place and a family memorial will be planned for a later date. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, Chelsea. The family urges well-wishers to enjoy time with their families, give to the charity of their choice and raise a glass to the man who will be remembered by his family as the Greatest of the “Greatest Generation.”