SIOUX FALLS — Paul D. Kingery, 89, of Sioux Falls, and husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away Sunday, March 15, 2020.
Funeral services will be held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huron. To properly celebrate Paul’s life with all of his family and friends, services will be announced and held at a later date due to COVID-19 related travel concerns.
Affectionally known as Mr. K, he was a former teacher/administrator in the Huron and Iroquois School Districts including Pearl Creek Colony. Paul had a long and wonderful life and was able to live his life out at home as he wished.
Paul was born August 9, 1930, the fifth of six children, in Mitchell, S.D. He attended Mitchell schools before enlisting in the US Air Force on May 1946 at the age of 15. Paul attended radar training school in Florida where he suffered a hearing loss and was sent to Walter Reed Hospital at Washington, D.C. for medical treatment. While at Walter Reed, Paul had the opportunity to meet John “Black Jack” Pershing which was one of his many stories that he liked to share.
After his discharge and with the help of the GI Bill, Paul attended USD, Huron University, SDSU and NSU. He graduated from NSU in 1962 with a Master of Science degree in education. Another story that Paul liked to share was how his friend (Bill Markey) had to convince him to register for college on his last day of eligibility. That event had a profound effect on the rest of his life.
Paul married Joyce D. Geiger on December 30, 1954. They raised their three children and lived in Huron until their retirement from the Huron School District in 1991. Paul and Joyce then moved to Sioux Falls.
Paul was an active member of the St. Martin Church in Huron and member of Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls. Paul was also a life member of SDEA/NEA, a member of the School Administrators of SD, American Legion and the Huron Knights of Columbus.
Paul loved to spend time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. While he could travel, Paul enjoyed visits to Chicago and the Seattle area. As he got older and could not travel as much, the grandchildren would come to visit him and loved to spend time at Lake Madison.
Paul was always ready to help others and spent his life serving youth as a public-school teacher/administrator, religious education teacher, Boy Scout Leader, youth supervisor in the Sioux Falls YMCA basketball program, and mentor at the SD Penitentiary. Paul was an avid reader and spent many hours at the Sioux Falls Public Libraries. He was a volunteer at many library book sales and would typically come home with boxes of books that he would deliver to the Pearl Creek Colony children. He also volunteered as a regular driver with Sioux Falls Meals on Wheels program.
In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by three children, Jeff (Deanna Dornbush) of Suquamish, Wa., Chris (Kerry) Hofer of Sioux Falls, and Paula of Madison; grandchildren, Ryan (Sarah Ketchie) of Chicago and Karissa of Pasco, Wa.; and great-grandchildren, Hayden and Maxwell of Chicago.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and three sisters.
The family is very grateful to the Avera@Home Hospice Service for assisting Paul and family after Paul’s stroke and in Paul’s final days.
Online guestbook at www.georgeboom.com
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