Gene Kinney, 88, of Perry passed away Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, at the Eden Acres Campus of the Perry Lutheran Homes in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home and Crematory-Perry Chapel. Burial will be at the Richland Township Cemetery near Bagley, Iowa.
Gene Leroy Kinney was born April 9, 1935, in Herndon, Iowa, to Merle Leroy and Edna M. (Pell) Kinney.
He grew up, the middle child of three, in the Herndon/Jamaica farm community.
Gene graduated from Jamaica High School in 1952 and then began farming with his father. During slack times, he was employed with the Milwaukee Railroad.
Gene enjoyed music and was known to play the saxophone in several local band concerts during the summer as well as a few years with the Jamaica Corn Kings.
Gene was united in marriage to Karen Hess on March 23, 1958, at the Jamaica Union Church and at the same time was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the 1st Division-5th Army Band from 1958 to 1960.
The next 30 years were enjoyed living on the farm, raising their son, Lyle, and daughter, Diana, as well as being a part of the local church, school and community.
Gene and Karen moved to Perry in 1990.
Gene was employed at the Woodward Resource Center for 15 years prior to retiring in 2001.
He was a member of the Perry Bible Church, a 50-year Mason and Past Master of the Jamaica and Perry Masonic Lodges and served two terms on the YJB school board.
He enjoyed fishing trips to Canada and the morning coffee group in Perry.
Gene’s greatest joy was his family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by wife, Karen; and his parents, Merle and Edna Kinney.
Survivors include his son, Lyle (Janet) Kinney of Bellevue, Nebraska; daughter, Diana (Ray) Hughes of Aurora, Colorado; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many dear friends.
Memorials will be given to family for later designation and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
