December 23rd, 2022
Obituary of John D. Kinch
John Kinch was born on December 20, 1954. He died on December 23, 2022. He was born to James and Ellen (McKean) Kinch. He was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. John was very proud to be a Canadian.
He went to Sir Winston Churchill High School. While in high school he received the city wide award for excellence in baseball and bowling. John then received a full scholarship to play football at Youngstown State University. He was the all time leading rusher at YSU. He played tailback where his friend Dave Garden from Fairport Harbor, Ohio blocked for him. They were both very proud of this and it turned into a lifelong friendship. John was inducted into the YSU Hall of Fame in 1995.
After college John started his professional football career as the number one draft pick in the Canadian Football League. He played for the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Roughriders. His career ended when Terry Metcalf rolled up on his ankle and broke it. They could not make the necessary repairs back then like they could today. He played six years in the CFL.
In Canada, high school football games were played during the week in the daylight. John wanted his children to have the “under the lights” experience, so he moved them to the United States. His friend Dave Garden took his resume to the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. John’s first job was a correction officer in the detention facility. His partner was Rick Sivula. John and Rick became lifetime friends. Until the day John died Kinch and Sivula had coffee once a week. John worked in many departments in the court including Educational Services, Alternative School and probation including high risk probation and felony intensive probation. John served the court for 30 years. His devotion to children was endless and John challenged the youth under his supervision daily stating they must practice the ” 3 C’s”. Challenge yourself, choices you have and the consequences that follow. To be the best you must practice more than the rest. John lived by this motto.
John is survived by his children Jimmy and Stephanie and his grandchildren Riley, Connor, Carter and Harper. He is also survived by his loving wife Karen Lawson. John would constantly say to her “You are the love of my life”. John and Karen would also say to each other “It is you and me and me and you forever”. Forever has come my love and it will still be you and me and me and you until I am at your side again. I love you John. Rest.
Private services were held. A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at a later date.
VIA: https://johnsonfuneralservices.net/tribute/details/2183/John-Kinch/obituary.html
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