Walter Kinate

He found his love of flying when he first soloed in 1943 at the Brown County Field in Green Bay at the age of 16. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944 at the age of 17 where he was a member of the 15th Air Force assigned to the 376th bomb group as a top turret gunner on a B24 Liberator. After the war ended, he remained in Italy as an active duty military police.

Upon returning home, he attended college in Galesburg, Illinois studying aviation and then went to work for Western Airlines. January 7, 1952 he went to work for TWA as a flight engineer and retired on November 9, 1986.

He married Ruth Colleen McNabb on February 14, 1953. They had four children, Mikel Joseph, Daniel Craig, Christopher Mathew and Elizabeth Ann.

He married Velda Jean Larson on April 19, 1986. Velda had four children, Pat, Richard, Susan and Don.

Wally loved to fly, travel, camp, ski and fish. He loved to spend time with family as he pursued these activities. He was a member of the Masons and then the Shriners. He was a charter member of Hillside Christian Church where he served as a deacon and an elder. He volunteered as an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as scout master and assistant scoutmaster. He attended summer camp with all three of the boys helping them to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Kinate; siblings, Milton Kinate,

Father Edmund Kinate, Bill Kinate, Connie Sherrington, Dorothy Snygg, George Kinate and Don Kinate, and step son, Richard Larson.

He is survived by wife, Velda Kinate of the home; children, Mikel Kinate (Carol), Dan Kinate (Jensine), Chris Kinate (Benja), Elizabeth Randolph (Eric); step children, Patricia Rardon (Patrick), Susan Hagen (Mike), Don Larson (Michelle), 16 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Walter was the son of an immigrant who lived the Great American Dream.