Dale Francis Kinney

Dale Francis Kinney

Dale Francis Kinney, 86, passed away on Friday, April 29, 2016, at his home in Bettendorf, Iowa. A service in cel-
ebration of his life was held on Monday, May 16 at Weerts Funeral Home, Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport, IA. Visitation with family will begin at noon followed by a service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in the National Cemetery, Rock Island, Ill.

Dale was born in Bloomfield, Neb. on Feb. 3, 1930, the son of Charles William and Emma Pauline (Bruegman) Kinney. Dale was one of twelve siblings, and moved with the family to Sidney, Neb., while a youngster. He graduated from Sidney High School in 1949, where he met his sweetheart and future wife, (Mary) Ellen Livingston. Dale and Ellen were married on Sept. 9, 1950 in Sidney, Neb.

Dale joined the U.S. Army and served from 1952 to 1954. He continued to serve in the Army reserves until being honorably discharged in 1960. After his active duty in the Army was completed he began work as a civil servant with the Department of Army at Sioux Army Depot, in Sidney, Neb. Dale began his career as a budget officer and became comptroller at Savanna, Ill. Army Depot in 1965. During his tenure at Savanna, Dale was promoted to the position of Civilian Executive Assistant, the top civilian at the base. In 1976, Dale and Ellen moved the family to Tooele, Utah to work at the Tooele Army Depot. In another promotion in 1980, Dale and Ellen moved to Chambersburg, Pa. as Dale became the Deputy of the Depot Systems Command (DESCOM). Later still, in 1983, Dale and Ellen moved to work at the Rock Island Arsenal, accepting the position of Director, Plants and Installations, at AMCOM. Dale retired from federal service in 1986 after over thirty-nine years of service to the country.

Dale joined Day & Zimmerman in 1987, moving to Philadelphia, Pa. where he and Ellen made many new friends. Dale retired from D&Z, seventeen years later, achieving the highest position of President, Government Systems Group.

Dale received many awards over his storied career. In 1984 he received the civil service’s highest accolade, the “Presidential Rank Award for Senior Executive Service” by President Ronald Reagan for his significant leadership contributions. In 1999 he was inducted into the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame.

Dale was a loving husband, a devoted father to his children Jeanne, Jim, and Jeff, an unselfish soul and a tireless worker. He loved spending time with Ellen, attending events his children and grandchildren participated in and playing golf with his sons. He was happiest when his family was all together.

Dale will be dearly missed by his wife, Ellen, of sixty-five years; their children: Jeanne (Don) Cook, Bettendorf, Iowa; Jim (Jean) Kinney, Antioch, Ill.; Jeff (Pam) Kinney, Chicago, Ill.; five grandchildren: Amanda Cook, Brad (Kristyn) Cook, Chris (Christine) Cook, Andrew Kinney, Joe Kinney and one great-grandchild, Davis Cook. He is also survived by a brother Rex Kinney, Colo., a sister, JoAnn Rihn, Texas and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, his parents and nine of his brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be made to the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the Kinney family by visiting this obituary at www.WeertsFH.com