Frank W. Kinzel

Frank W. Kinzel, 72, a long-time resident of Belgrade, died  unexpectedly Friday, September 3, 2021, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Grace Lutheran Church in Belgrade.  Visitation will be from 4-7:00 pm, Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home in Belgrade and for one hour prior to the service at church.  Burial will be in Grace West Cemetery in Belgrade.

Frank was born on November 23, 1948, to Wilfred and Mathilda Kinzel on a dairy farm in Long Prairie.  If you believe Frank, he was born in the morning and that evening he was out doing chores in the barn.  He grew up on that dairy farm and attended Long Prairie High School.  Upon graduation Frank immediately went into the US Navy and served aboard the USS Bennington aircraft carrier as a cook.  From the stories he told that was one position on the ship you didn’t want to cross, because he controlled the food and everyone had to eat.

After being honorably discharged he returned home and worked mainly in construction for several years.  It was also during this time that he met his life-long companion Carol Holtberg. Frank and Carol were married on September, 14, 1974, and were blessed with three sons.  After construction, Frank found a love in trucking for Superior Feeds which evolved into trucking for Belgrade Steel Tank. He then worked as a welder and supervisor at Belgrade Steel Tank until he retired.

Frank was known for his lack of patience, not holding back his opinion and a knack for telling it like it is.  He always told you the truth even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear.  He was genuine to a fault, a softie at heart and yet he sugar coated nothing. He was a leader; people would flock to him looking for guidance, and he always seemed to have the answer. It’s safe to say no matter what situation you were in, if you were with Frank you felt safe.

Frank loved to work in the shop, it seemed like there was nothing he couldn’t make or fix. If he couldn’t get it to work then he made sure nobody could. He liked to say that a project just needed some gentle persuasion, usually with a hammer and crowbar.  He loved to tinker with cars, especially old Chevy’s, and occasionally you would see tools magically fly out of the shop when he worked on them.

Frank served his community as a member of the VFW, church council, and by supporting his wife on the Belgrade Fire Dept. He was always quick to lend hand when anyone needed it and never expected anything in return.

He will be sorely missed and survived by his wife Carol; children: Jake Kinzel, Perry & Desi Kinzel and Paul Kinzel; grandchildren: Keyli and Archer, mother Tillie, siblings: Kathy Loegering, Karen Hanson, and Florian & Linda Kinzel. He was preceded in death by his father Wilfred. All whom loved him dearly and will never forget his tenacity, wit, charm, grace and undying love and caring for them.

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