Arlene Marguerite Kinser

Arlene Marguerite Kinser died peacefully on December 4 at age 104. Born in Easton, Ohio on November 3, 1917 to Ernest and Gertrude Berger, Arlene was the oldest of their four children, and grew up in a home without running water, indoor plumbing, or electricity. After high school, Arlene trained to become a Registered Nurse, and saved enough money from her first year of working to have her parents’ home wired for electricity. In 1937 she met Kenneth Kinser on a blind date, and the two were married in 1939. The couple’s first son, David, was born in 1942, and when Dave was a toddler, Kenny was drafted into World War II. Post-War, the couple had two more children, Karen and Donald.

While Kenny worked in the steel industry in Ohio and Indiana, Arlene served as homemaker, and frequently helped Kenny with entertaining his clients. In the ’50’s, they discovered Sanibel Island and often vacationed there with the kids. When retirement arrived, they moved to Fort Myers to enjoy warmer winters and the beaches of nearby Sanibel.

Arlene was a masterful cook and baker, enjoyed crafts, and was renowned for her pecan tassies and her brownie ice cream pie, which she never failed to make for her favorite son-in-law. Until the past few years, her mind remained razor-sharp, and she had an incredible recall for names, dates, phone numbers, and events. A passionate sea shell collector, Arlene also learned the names of every shell you’d find on Sanibel’s shores. She also enjoyed reading, and was proud to have read the Bible cover to cover three times.

As an avid card and game player, Arlene excelled at Mexican train dominos, progressive rummy, bingo, and pennies from heaven. Her sharp mind also included remembering the prices of all food and produce, and her (adult) children remember being reprimanded for wasting 39-cent-a-pound potatoes in a potato cannon.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Ernest Berger; her husband of 62 years, Kenny Kinser; and her sisters Beatrice and Lois, and brother Richard. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, David (Gail) Kinser, Karen (Michael Mason) Kinser, and Donald (Ann) Kinser; by grandchildren Kerry (Bob) Nantz, Kathy (Daniel) White, Paul (Megan) Kinser, Jeff (Sidney) Kinser, Jennifer (Don) Kinser-Traut, Michael (Bonnie) Mason, and Lisa Koehrsen; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the kind, caring, and exceptional staff at The Lodge at Cypress Cove for their care of Arlene during the past 12 years. Particularly Elise Keller who cared for Arlene, Lynn Huber, Transitions Nurse and Scott Lendh, Activities Director.

A Graveside Service for Arlene will be held Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, FL 33913.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com for the Kinser family.