Kevin Lee Kinder, 61, of Herculaneum died May 6, 2018, at his home. Mr. Kinder graduated from Festus High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Northeast Missouri State University and a master’s degree in public administration personnel management from Kentucky State University. He was an accomplished athlete, excelling in track and field, football, wrestling and karate. He also played the trumpet and piano/keyboard and wrote songs. After graduating from college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of major. After retiring from the military, he began his career as an educator, serving as an adjunct professor at Kentucky State University and overseeing the ROTC program there. He also was an administrator in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, taught adult education at Allied College and ended his career in education as a teacher at Festus Middle School, before recently retiring. He loved community, nature, fishing, hunting, camping, traveling and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Festus.
Born Nov. 21, 1956, in Festus, he was the son of the late William Leon and Lorena (Jones) Kinder.
While attending Northwest Missouri State University, he met his wife, Sherri Lynn Troy, who preceded him in death.
He is survived by one son: Adrian Kinder of Moberly; one daughter: Alicia (Ryan) Kinder-Wimbley of Florissant; one brother: William Kinder Jr. of Festus; three grandchildren: Dylan, Christian and Reagan Wimbley; a special son: Danny Kinder-Kay; a special niece: Denise Shye Sams; and a host of relatives and friends.
He also was preceded in death by one brother: Brian Kinder; and one sister: Doris (Kinder) Shye.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the funeral services, which will be from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Mahn Twin City Chapel, 515 Collins Ave., in Festus. Procession going to the burial at the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks will meet at Mahn Funeral Home at 11 a.m. with procession leaving at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 14. Burial will be at the cemetery at 12:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Kinder-Grappler Scholarship. Arrangements are under the direction of Mahn Funeral Home.