Rev. Francis Kinzler June 24, 1927 – January 08, 2019 Share this obituary Local Florists Send Sympathy Gifts Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Rev. Francis Kinzler left this earthly home and entered his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Elim Care Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
Visitation will be Friday, January 18, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at the Frank Family Funeral Home, Lidgerwood, ND. Visitation will continue on Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 10-11 am followed by the funeral service at 11:00 m at Milnor United Methodist Church, Milnor, ND. Burial will be in the spring at Pleasantview Cemetery, Lidgerwood, ND.
Francis was born on June 24, 1927 the fourth of five children of Rev. Otto E. Kinzler and Beatrice (Garriott) Kinzler in Kenmare, North Dakota. He lived in several towns in North Dakota during his youth as his father moved as a Methodist minister.
Francis graduated from Fairmount High School in 1945 and entered the Navy, being stationed in San Francisco Bay, CA. Francis attended Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. While attending College he met Velma Johnson.
Francis and Velma were married on July 19, 1951 in Christopher, Illinois. They lived in Pennsylvania for two years, serving churches in Lancaster and New Holland, while Francis attended Westminster Theological Seminary in Westminster, Maryland. Upon graduation, Francis and Velma moved to North Dakota where Francis served as a Methodist then United Methodist minister.
They served twenty-six churches in North Dakota during forty years in ministry. One of his favorite memories was instituting the outdoor worship service held at Lake Sakakawea State Park while serving the Community Church in Riverdale, ND. Francis and Velma were married for sixty-two years.
Francis enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He served as a bus driver, scout master, and was active in Parent Teacher Association, in which he was gifted with a life time membership, and he was a member of the American Legion of Lidgerwood. They retired to Lidgerwood, ND, in 1991 until December 2010 when they moved to Elim Care Center in Fargo.
After retirement he served as church organist at the Lidgerwood United Methodist, as District Governor of Lions International, and enjoyed sewing and machine quilting and has made hundreds of school bags for the Milnor and Wyndmere United Methodist Church to send to missions. He had a great passion for music and loved giving organ concerts at Elim. He loved spending time with his family.
Francis is survived by four children: Rev. Beatrice Kinzler, Fargo, ND; Janice (David) Breker, Lidgerwood, ND; Francis Kinzler, Jr., Devils Lake, ND and Mary Kinzler, Fargo, ND; five granddaughters: Kathy (Adam) Walburn, Tower City, ND; Karen Breker, Hill City, MN; Chasidie Ratliff (Dave Kling) Wahpeton, ND; Kim Breker (Joseph Martinez) Fargo, ND; and Amanda (Dillon) Evans Devils Lake, ND; greatgrandchildren, Devin, Darian, Breanna and Bailey Walburn, Lea Kling and Izzabelle Kinzler; sister, Jean Englerth, Hastings, MI; brother, Rev. H. Wallace (Betty) Kinzler, Ames, IA; sisters-in-law, Bev Kinzler, Bismarck, ND; and M. Sue (Rev.
Bill) Dupree, Americus, GA; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Otto and Beatrice Kinzler; daughters, Patricia Lynn and Sarah Anne; wife, Velma (Johnson) Kinzler; brother-in-law Gordon Englerth; brother, O. Edward Kinzler; a sister and brother-in-law, Mabel and Neil Mulock.
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