Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Leo “Ole” R. Kinney, 90, died Saturday, July 5, 2025. He was born in Richland County, WI on October 20, 1934, to John and Marguerite (Clancy) Kinney. He grew up on a farm near Excelsior with nine siblings and graduated from Blue River High School. Leo married Phyllis Clark on September 24, 1966, in Oshkosh, WI. They began their 58 years of marriage and raised their three children in the Boscobel, WI area until moving to Winneconne, WI in 1991.
Leo joined the Knights of Columbus in 1955 and continued for 70 years. He was a Fourth Degree Knight and also served as Grand Knight. He was a lifelong Catholic member of Immaculate Conception in Boscobel then St Mary's in Winneconne. Leo was a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years with the Boscobel Fire Department.
Leo enjoyed most social events and had a way of making people laugh. Some of his favorite pastimes were spending time with family and friends, dancing, singing with the Irish Tabernacle Choir, bowling, playing cards, fishing, and watching sports-especially all the Wisconsin teams. Leo made many friends over the years selling feed for Moorman's, then propane and fertilizer for Thermogas. His favorite job was operating heavy equipment for road construction. Leo retired proudly from the Operating Engineers Local 139 in 1999.
Leo is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Shawn (Wendy), Kelly, and Erin Kinney (Jenn Scherg); daughter-in-law, Karyn (Kargus) Kinney; grandchildren, James (Brianna Franke), Garett (Talia LaFave), and Gavin Kinney (Lorelei Graf), and Kade Salisbury; siblings, Irene Joyce, and Kyrie (Jane) Kinney; sister-in-law, Janet Kinney; other relatives and friends.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and spouses, Therese (Beuford) O'Connor, Kate (Mick) Sorge, Mary Knothe; brothers and spouses, Jack (Sally), Paul (Elaine), Thomas, and Jerry Kinney; brother-in-law, Joseph Joyce; many other family and friends.
Special thanks to the amazing care staff at Park View Health Center for the comfort you provided him his final years.
A visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church 210 Pleasant Dr. Winneconne. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Inurnment will follow in the Winneconne Cemetery.
Mueller Funeral Home-Winneconne is assisting the family. If you wish, please submit online condolences/memories to muellerfh.net.
Dick Amann wrote on July 7, 2025
Our deepest condolences, will cherish the years we worked together at Mann Bros .
Msgr. Michael Gorman wrote on July 7, 2025
My condolences and assurance of prayers to Phyllis and all the family. I regret that prior commitments prevent me from attending the funeral. I offered Mass for him today. May God reward his faithfulness.
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