John William Kinnick, 81, of Springfield MO passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 5, 2016 due to complications of Alzheimer's disease.

John was born on August 13, 1935 in Lockwood MO. He was the youngest of four siblings to Robert Emmett and Mary Ruth (Snadon) Kinnick. John spent his childhood in Lockwood, graduating from Lockwood High School in 1953.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958, stationed in Germany. John made his home in Springfield, MO after coming home from his military service overseas.

He began his lifelong career as a Letter Carrier with the United States Post Office in Springfield in the early 1960's. After retiring from the Postal Service in the early 1990's, John began a business serving his fellow Letter Carriers with specialty uniform shoes. John's Shoe Company began as a small, one person business that grew into a successful company selling shoes to Postal workers all over the United States.

John retired from his shoe company in the early 2000's. John enjoyed traveling and spending time with fellow RV enthusiasts. He loved being outdoors, gardening and gathering with friends and family.   John also had a great love of sports. He very much enjoyed the fall football season and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.

John was a member of The Elks Lodge #409 in Springfield, MO for 41 years. The Elks community was very dear to him. Many lifelong friendships and happy memories were made over the many years spent at the Lodge.

John is survived by his beloved wife Nowetta Kinnick, his daughter Kara (Kinnick) Kuttenkuler and her husband Greg Kuttenkuler, 2 granddaughters, step-daughter Gloria (Maloney) Abramovitz and her husband Michael, 3 step-granddaughters and sister Nora Ruth (Kinnick) Mammen. John is also survived by his mother-in-law Ruby Lorraine Henderson, brother-in-law Rick Willis and his wife Glenda and 6 step-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his son Kyle William Kinnick, his parents, sister Jeane (Kinnick) Thompson and brother Robert Kinnick.

A private graveside burial is planned for John at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield on Friday September 9, 2016, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. A celebration of John's life will be held at the Elks Lodge # 409, 2223 E Bennett St. Springfield, MO 65804 on Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 1pm to 4 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation in John's memory to either the Alzheimer's Association http://act.alz.org/goto/John_Kinnick or The Elks Lodge Veterans Fund, contact: Gary Bockman at (417)881-0038