Freeman Kinsinger

Freeman Kinsinger passed away peacefully at home in Springfield, IL, on November 3, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born September 23, 1939, in Middlefield, Ohio, the son of John and Martha (Yoder) Kinsinger. Freeman is survived by his wife of 64 years, Retha (Schlabach) Kinsinger of Springfield; his son, Philip (PJ), of Springfield; and his daughter, Emily (Mark Albright) of Virginia, IL; three sisters, Mary (Emanuel) Petersheim of Middlefield, Ohio, Martha (Darwin) Bender of Accident, Maryland, and Miriam Stutzman of Hutchinson, Kansas; three grandsons, Austin, Schuyler, and Noah; and three step grandchildren, Lindsey, Cody, and Lily Albright. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers in law: Glenn Stutzman and Albert (Bert) and David Schlabach.

On September 2, 1961, he married the love of his life, Retha Schlabach, at Alden Mennonite Church in Alden, NY. They spent the early portion of their married life in Akron, PA, where they served three years in Voluntary Service at Mennonite Central Committee, a peace, relief, and development organization.

Freeman was a 1968 business graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo. After graduation he worked as a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner for Arthur Andersen LLP in Rochester, NY. He joined Central Illinois Public Service Company (CIPS) in 1977. While employed at CIPS, he graduated with an Executive Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After 21 years, he retired as Controller for CIPSCO (AmerenCIPS) in1998. He served on the Accounting Standards Committee of the Edison Electric Institute for 20 years.

Freeman volunteered much of his free time to charitable and social organizations and to the church. He served seven years on the Board of Family Service Center of Sangamon County, several as Vice President and Treasurer. He also served on the Boards of the YMCA and the United Way.

After his retirement from CIPSCO, he was a substitute teacher at the Pleasant Plains Middle School and High School for several years. He became a regular bus driver for the School District and was instrumental in organizing the Pleasant Plains Educational Support Personnel Association into an approved union affiliated with the IEA-NEA. As the initial president, he negotiated its first collective bargaining agreement with the School District. After living in an idyllic wooded location near the Village of Pleasant Plains for over 40 years, Freeman and Retha moved to Springfield and spent the last seven years appreciating the convenience of the city.

Freeman loved and served the Lord and His church faithfully. He was a deacon and Elder at West Side Christian Church, serving numerous years as Trustee and Chairman. He was a longtime leader and teacher of various small groups at West Side.

Freeman loved the outdoors, especially cutting firewood and having bonfires after dark in the woods with family and friends. He enjoyed listening to classical and jazz music. He was in great demand for either fixing broken toys or improvising them for his children and grandchildren. He greatly enjoyed his travels that took him to all of the lower 48 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Africa.

The family may be greeted on Monday, November 10, 2025, at West Side Christian Church from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with the memorial service to follow immediately thereafter. Burial will be in the Pleasant Plains cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to West Side Christian Church, 2850 Cider Mill Lane, Springfield, IL, 62702, or to The Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, South West, Lilburn, GA 30047, or visit their website at www.lbda.org.