John Theron Kinst

Mr. John Theron Kinst, son of the late Edward and Ethel Kittleson Kinst and older brother to David Kinst, was born April 16, 1943 in Geneva, Illinois. He attended Geneva public schools and was a graduate of Geneva High School where he played multiple sports including tennis, basketball, and football. He attended college at Illinois Wesleyan University and earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School where he took a semester “off” to enjoy the French Quarter. He continued playing basketball while in New Orleans, even making it to the final cut of an ABA team. After graduating law school, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps where he served as an officer in Vietnam. After his honorable military discharge, he returned to Illinois working a variety of jobs. He opened his own law practice and a real estate company. Before long, he gave up the practice of law and began a lifelong career of teaching tennis to children and adults throughout the Northern Illinois area at clubs including the Geneva Golf Club and Cantigny Golf & Tennis (Wheaton). He touched numerous lives through tennis and helped many younger players progress from the junior level up through the collegiate level. He married Josephine Shortland Kinst in 1979. John and Jo initially met when he gave her a tennis lesson at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. Their marriage lovingly endured up to the date of his passing. They have one son, Matthew Kinst. John was an active bridge player and teacher with significant ties to the bridge community. His sense of humor, kind spirit, and warm personality were loved by many. He quietly departed this life Friday, July 15, 2016 at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, Illinois where he was making the doctors and nurses laugh up to his final moments. His life will forever be cherished by: his wife, Josephine Kinst; son, Matthew Kinst; soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Susan Valand; brother, David Kinst; nephew, Michael Kinst; nieces, Sarah and Elizabeth Kinst; and a host of other relatives, devoted friends, and bridge partners. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Tribella Grill, 1900 Mill Street, Batavia, Illinois 60510.