Obituary of Gary Kinnard

Gary Peter Kinnard, age 68, of Cambridge passed away July 6 at his home. After a courageous battle with cancer, 2 operations and many days of radiation and chemotherapy the tumor won. However, he was a miracle child living longer than the average person with this dreadful cancer. He was born October 28, 1947 in Elk River, MN, the fourth of seven children to Wesley & Norrine (Lewis) Kinnard. Gary grew up on a farm outside of the Elk River area and was active in FFA during his high school years. In 1965, after graduating from High School he started working for Honeywell and retired in 2002 after 36 years! He went into the US Air Force in February 1967 and served three years in Duluth and one year in Alaska. On May. 17,1969 he married his high school sweetheart, Diane Prickett. In 1971 Tristin Marie was born. After a few years of city living, the old adage: You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy" brought about the building of a hobby farm in 1974 near Elk River. They left the hobby farm after 25 years for an opportunity to live on Eagle Lake for 10 years. But, the call of the farm came again and they purchased another Hobby farm near Cambridge on Stanchfield Creek. This is where he had the opportunity to do the farm work he always loved doing! He spent many days helping his friend "Farmer Ernie" with field work. Gary was a great handyman able to "fix anything"! This ability was put to use in the rebuilding of a 1946 Indian, a Doodle Bug and a Cushman. He so enjoyed motor cycles and took many wonderful trips on his Harley! He was an avid hunter and enjoyed both rifle and mussel loader deer hunting! Gary dearly loved his family and wonderfully cared for, as he said; "His girl's". He was a loving husband and father and a wonderful "papa" to Jessica. We will miss his smile, his sense of humor and quick wit, his bouncing walk and his kindness to others. Most importantly Gary knew and loved the Lord. He was a member of Karmel Covenant Church. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him! Gary is survived by his wife of 47 years, Diane, daughter, Tristin and granddaughter, Jessica both of Princeton, siblings, David Kinnard of Monticello, Judy McMullen of Buffalo, Polly Batdorf of McGrath, Gene Kinnard of Eau Claire, WI, Mark Kinnard of Billings, MT & Deborah Burgess of Lynnwood, WA, Great Aunt Elsie Alfords of Elk River nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley & Norrine Kinnard. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 16th at Karmel Covenant Church, 5799 County Rd 6 NW, Princeton, MN 55371. Service at 11 AM with a visitation one hour prior.