John Matthew Kinnear, 91, of Springfield, died on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center. John was born September 22, 1924 in Urbana, the son of Claude and Inez Lincicome Kinnear. He married Antonina "Lena" Beninato on June 5, 1976 in Chicago; she preceded him in death on August 25, 2004. John graduated from Urbana High School in 1942 and proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII. After the war, he earned his bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Illinois in 1949 and his master's degree in Economics from Columbia University. He retired at the age of 77 from the State of Illinois Department of Human Services, as a Statistician, after over 40 years of service. John enjoyed praising the Lord and reading his Bible. He was also preceded in death by his parents; brother, Tommy Kinnear; and niece, Michelle Myers. John is survived by his siblings, Charles Kinnear of Chattanooga, TN, Mary Brown of Champaign, and Alice Perrine of San Diego, CA; five nieces; three nephews; and his guardian angels, Erin Stewart and Carson. Private family burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery.
