Rev. Dr. Ed Kinzler

Rev. Dr. Otto Edward Kinzler, Jr., AKA Ed Kinzler, age 90 of Larimore, ND passed away Monday, June 29, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

Born on September 14, 1924 in Norma, ND the son of Rev. Otto Edward and Hellen Beatrice (Garriot) Kinzler, he was the second of five children. Ed was active in all sport and musical activities in Fairmount, ND where he graduated from High School. In June, 1943, he was drafted into the U. S. Navy and served as a sonar operator on a sub chaser in the South Pacific. In the summer of 1945 he was appointed to go to Navy Officer Training School at Oregon State University. In 1946 he was released from the Navy.

Ed entered Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky in the fall of 1946, graduating 1949, with a BA degree. He served as pastor of the Methodist Church in Casselton, ND from 1949 to 1951. In 1951, he entered Asbury Theological Seminary and graduated in 1953 with M-Div degree and was ordained an Elder in the Methodist Church.

In 1949 Ed married Lois Lane of Minneapolis (names of children below). The marriage was terminated in 1972 in a divorce.
Rev. Ed entered the Navy as a chaplain in 1953. He served in Korea and Viet Nam with the Marine Corps. He was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Viet Nam. While stationed at Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico he was also adjunct professor of Inter American University in San Juan, teaching courses in Religion and Speech at the air station.

Ed retired from the Navy in 1971 with the rank of Commander. He earned a D-Min degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1980. He retired from the ministry in 1986 while serving as pastor of the Devils Lake United Methodist Church. He married Beverly Nelson Oberlander in 1973.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mabel.

He is survived by his wife Beverly, one sister, Jean Englerth of Hastings, MI; two brothers: Rev. Francis (Velma) Kinzler of Lidgerwood, ND and Rev. Wally (Betty) Kinzler of Ames, IA; two daughters: Chris (Herb) Burton of Rowlette, TX and Eunice (Gordon) Harring of Ashlund, VA; three sons: Dan (Mary) of Jacksonville, FL; Phil (Karin) of Sagle, ID; and Paul (Tiffaney) of Nampa, ID; one step-son: Rick (Margaret) Oberlander of Bismarck, ND and two step-daughters: Valarie (Vaughn) Johnson of Perth, ND and Renae (Wayne) Ash of Sydney, MT. He is also survived by the 24 best grandchildren and 28 best great grandchildren in the world. Ed is also survived by special friends Howard and Liz Kyllo of Larimore.

FUNERAL SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 2, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Larimore.

VISITATION: Wednesday, July 1 from 5-7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service held in the Bakke Funeral Home of Larimore. Visitation will also be for one hour prior to the funeral service in the church on Thursday.

INTERMENT: ND Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.

MILITARY HONORS AND FLAG PRESENTATION: Ted Valerius Post No. 97 of the Larimore American Legion and the ND National Guard Honor Team.