Dan Kinney, 1942-2025
With sadness in our hearts, we report that Dan Kinney died September 29, 2025. About 60 of us enjoyed seeing and talking with Dan at our 65th Reunion in Wichita, September 19-20. As soon as his obituary is available, you will find it here. In the meantime, we will re-publish stories that Dan wrote for this website. Many of his stories recount hilarious versions of high school adventures. Not a computer user, Dan wrote his stories by hand on lined paper and mailed them to us. Along with Dan’s stories, you will find pieces from The Messenger about his exploits, yearbook photos, and stories by his friends.
In his professional life, Dan built a first-rate parks and recreation program in Springfield, Missouri. The Dan Kinney collection on our website includes newspaper and magazine clips about the many awards and honors he received, including a photo of the huge recreation building in Springfield that was named the Dan Kinney Family Center.
One of the questions asked of classmates who attended the 65th Reunion was — “Hey! How did you manage to live this long?” Dan talked about how it wasn’t easy, especially given his rascally start. In conclusion, he said, “I lived so long because I loved my jobs, because of my family, and my church.”
At left, photo of Dan Kinney on 9/20/25 by Jane Thompson Olson. Below, photo of Jake Jacobs and Dan by Gary Bellert.
If you have memories of Dan Kinney to share, add them below as Comments or send them to Marilyn (mbellert@niu.edu) and Diane (ddzinn@aol.com).
A memorial service for Dan Kinney is scheduled for October 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Schweitzer Church, 2747 E. Sunshine Street, Springfield, MO.
We’re all saddened by Dan’s sudden death. It’s so shocking.
I have clear memories of our years as athletes. At Roosevelt we would often walk together after afternoon basketball practice to his house on N Madison. I would then head up to mine on N Lorraine.
At East our basketball careers came to a screeching halt the same day our Junior year. During a practice session, he and I were talking together on the sideline. Coach Sickles came over to us and said, “I think Coach Barger wants you boys to go out for wrestling. “Oh! OK! Sure thing, Coach.”
In football, whenever we needed at least five yards, I would call in the huddle the play for the fullback to run to the right of center—Fred Elder, or for him to run to the left. To start the play, I would hand off to fullback Dan who would blast away for the necessary yardage—often more.
Calvin