HURON — John Hinners, 70, of Huron, passed away Friday, September 10, 2021, peacefully at his home.
His memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 20, at the American Lutheran Church. His memorial service will be livestreamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, September 19, at the Kuhler Funeral Home.
John H. Hinners was born June 15, 1951, to Harmon and Wilma (Brockmeyer) Hinners at Lamar, Colorado. As a little child he lived in Big Springs, Texas, but then moved to Lime Springs, Iowa to live on his grandfather, Brockmeyer’s farm. There John participated in 4-H and showed his Jersey cow.
At the beginning of his sophomore year, his family moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota. In high school, John was the wrestling manager and worked at Marzolf Implement as a mechanic. He graduated high school in 1969. John attended Austin State Jr. College and graduated in 1971, with an Associate of Arts degree. He then went on to the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry Resources Development and in Agriculture Business. While at the U of M, he worked for the U of M Veterinary Hospital and for the forest service in the Red Ives Ranger District at Avery, Idaho.
John married Diane Kay Nelsen on May 20, 1972. The next two summers they spent three months on Simmons & Snow Pike Lookout Tower at the Red Ives Ranger District. After graduating from college in 1974, John and Diane went into the Peace Corps at Morocco, Africa. While there, John worked with people in reforestation. For ten years, he was the forester for the Amana Colony Sawmill and at the Amana Feed Mill. In 1985, John moved his family to Huron, South Dakota, to work for the State of South Dakota as a Forest and Agro Forester.
Over the years, John had many hobbies including being outdoors, hunting, fishing with his friend and dogs, and camping and traveling with family. He was an avid reader of a variety of books. He enjoyed making beautiful handcrafted wood items for family and friends. He volunteered as a 4-H shooting sports instructor, and as a fireman for the city of Huron. He was a long-time member of the American Lutheran Church. In retirement, he enjoyed being a substitute bus driver and food service worker for the Huron School District.
John was preceded in death by his parents Harmon and Wilma Hinners.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; daughter, Anita (Nathan) Fischbach of Shelby, Neb.; son, Kevin (Amanda) Hinners of Huron; son, Travis (Heather) Hinners of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Taryn and Kasey Fischbach, Carter and Gavin Hinners, and Dallas Shannon; brother, Neal (Cindy) Hinners of Spring Valley, Minn.; brother, Frank (Sandy) Hinners of Maricopa, Ariz.; nephew, Logan (Kelsey) Hinners of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and nephew, Kale Hinners of Center City, Minn.
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