Walter F. Kinder

Walter F. Kinder
WALTER F. KINDER, age 93 of Waseca, died on Friday, July 31, 2015 at Colony Court Memory Care & Care Suites in Waseca.
Born on November 27, 1921 in Appleton City, Missouri, he was the son of Charlie and Pearl (Graves) Kinder.  He and his family moved to Deer River, Minnesota in 1925 and he graduated from Deer River High School in 1940.  After graduation, he worked in Milwaukee at Myers Manufacturing Co. and later enrolled in a managers training program at Cudahy Meat Packing Co.  In 1942, Walter enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps serving overseas in the South Pacific for 2 1/2 years.  Following his discharge in 1946, he attended Greenway Junior College in Coleraine, MN.  He married Edith Chandler on August 6, 1946 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Deer River.  Walter graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science School in 1948.  Upon graduation, he received the Award of Merit from the graduated students and college faculty.  Walter served his internship at Hoeings Funeral Home in Brainerd.  Walt and his wife moved to Waseca in May of 1949 where he was employed at Pfaff Home for Funerals and Furniture Store until 1955.  They then moved to Adams where he managed the Adams Funeral Home and Furniture Store.  In June of 1963, Walt and his family returned to Waseca and purchased the Pfaff Home for Funerals and Furniture Store.  The furniture store was later sold and Walt continued to own and operate the funeral home until 1993.
Walt was a member of the Waseca Lions Club for over 50 years and had served as President of the Lions Club in Adams and Waseca.  He was a charter member of the Waseca Toastmasters Club, Waseca Bluejay Boosters Club, Waseca Chamber Ambassadors and had served as president in all three clubs.  He also served as president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association in 1974-75 and in addition had served on numerous National Funeral Directors Association committees.  Walt was also a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca where he served on the church board, was a longtime member of the Waseca Lakeside Club, and a member of the Waseca American Legion.
He is survived by one daughter, Susan Kinder and her husband David Vealitzek of Minneapolis; one son, Bradley Kinder and his wife Marie Capra of Minneapolis; six grandchildren, Alexander and Jessica Vealitzek, Nicholas and Shannon Vealitzek, Theodore Kinder, Rachel Kinder, Mary and Matthew Pietrzak, Grace and Matthew Bechle; three step-grandchildren, Madeline Erickson, Mikayla Erickson, Lucas Erickson; four great grandchildren, Henry, Clara, Alexander, and Ava Vealitzek.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, and five brothers.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 from 4-7 PM at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. David Baumgarn officiating. Burial will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca.