Karl Henry Kinkade

Karl Henry Kinkade was born March 31, 1934 in Terry, Montana to Frank and Frances Kinkade.His parents and Karl and his two brothers, Keith and Tom and his sister, Doris moved shorty after he was born, to Cody, Wyoming.The family lived up at the Kinkade Dairy, owned by his grandad, Henry Kinkade.When Karl was a little older, he and his siblings would work for their grandad on the dairy, milking, cleaning stalls, haying, feeding and all the work that goes into running a dairy.

They then moved to the home that his dad built up on Stampede Ave. Their family always had chickens, horses, milk cows and beef cows, a wonderful garden, sheep and pigs.

The first money Karl earned was when his dad paid him $1 if he caught 100 mice in the grainery…he was about five years old and he and his dog, Spot, went to work!Then from third grade to Jr. High age he would earn $5 - $10 each fall, plus breakfast and supper to herd sheep from the ranches over in Meeteetsee, WY to Cody to ship over a thousand head out.

During Karl’s Jr. High years, he worked with his brother, Tom and his Mom and Dad on ranches up the Southfork and the Northfork in the Sunlight Basin and Crandall Creek.

Karl graduated from Cody high school in 1952 lettering in football, basketball and track.He was also chosen to go to Boys State and president of the “C” club.

After graduation Karl went out to California where his brother was staying and worked for Lockheed Aircraft for a summer.He then went to Colorado College on a football scholarship and walked on the basketball team and made it.

In 1953 Karl joined the Paratroopers in the Army, Company E Airborne Class 11 for three years then finished with an honorable release.

He then went to work construction in Alaska for awhile then came home and signed up for the University of Wyoming in Engineering during which time his dad became very sick and died of Leukemia.This was a very sad time for Karl.He withdrew from college to stay home and help his mom with the Buffalo Girl Scout Camp that she and his dad ran.He then enrolled at Northwest College in Powell and he says the lucky part of coming back to Cody with all of this is he met the love of his life!She was teaching at the time in Powell, Wyoming.Karl married Jean Kay Platts on August 17, 1957 in her parent’s home, in Green River, Wyoming and they have been on an adventure for 63 years ever since!

Karl graduated in 1961 with an engineering degree from the University of Wyoming.

Along the way, three children were born, a girl and two boys.Jamie, Kole and Kristopher.

Karl’s engineering career has taken the family to Seattle, WA, Montana, California, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah, and Oregon.He retired at the age of 79.

Karl joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the year 1974 while they were living in Washington. When they moved back to Idaho they were sealed as a family in the Idaho Falls Temple in October of 1975.He had several callings and one of his favorite callings was that of Home Teacher.He loved Home Teachers and they loved him.

He loved the out of doors, exploring and sports.

One of Karl’s greatest attributes is gratitude. Karl loved people and was genuinely interested in them and appreciative.He would ask their name and not forget it.He believed in honesty, hard work, honor your name, honor your parents, and a strong handshake.Family is everything to Karl and has a deep love for his wife, Jean.

Karl and Jean have three children, 14 grandchildren, and 22 great – grandchildren.

Karl is survived by his wife Jean Kinkade, Kole Kinkade, Jamie Kinkade (Dale) Barnes and his older sibling, Keith Kinkade.

A graveside service with family only will be held at the Afton Cemetery, Friday at 1:00 PM on December 4, 2020.