JOHN KINZEL obituary

CHINOOK/HARLEM John Kinzel, 84, a retired Harlem farmer and mechanic, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, from natural causes at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre.

Memorial services will be held Monday at 2 p. m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. John was born June 22, 1922, at Kimball, Neb., to George and Amelia (Hartwig) Kinzel, one of 11 children. The family moved from Nebraska to Wyoming and later to Montana, eventually settling on the family farm near Harlem in 1934. John attended school in Harlem and stayed home to operate the family farm while his brothers served in the military during World War II. John married Miriam Deppmeier on March 7, 1947, in Havre. He continued to operate the family farm and also took a job in Harlem at Dolven Chevrolet. Later, he opened his own automobile repair shop, Harlem Repair, and continued to run the business until his retirement in 1989. He was an accomplished carpenter, and earned a reputation as an excellent mechanic. He had a natural talent and seemed to be able to fix almost anything. John was known for his kind heart, ready smile, teasing, funloving disposition. He had a joke or story for every occasion. He loved and respected animals, especially his dogs, Bear and Missy. He loved music, and one of his greatest joys was hearing members of his family play and sing. John was a long-time member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook. John was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Patricia Townsend Kinzel; brothers, Henry Kinzel, George Kinzel and Walter Kinzel; and sisters, Minnie Shaffer, Bertha Donis, Mollie Tangen, Emma Rollog and Helen Tangen. Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Miriam; daughters, Yvonne (Mark) Rasmussen of Hogeland and Carla (Rod) Becker of Harlem; sons, Randy Kinzel of Harlem and Dale Kinzel of Clarkston, Wash.; grandchildren, Paul (Kellie) Rasmussen of Hogeland, Kara (Jeff) Doyle of Billings, and Kasi Kinzel of Clarkston, Wash.; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Sarah Wold of Missoula and Juanita Irene Winter of Great Falls; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful and beloved dog, Missy. Memorials are suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church of Chinook, the Harlem Senior Citizens Center, or to one's choice. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.