Russell Stephen Kinerson

Russell S. Kinerson of Nixa, Missouri left us on (Date) following a well fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Russell was born to Russell and Louise (Stoddard) Kinerson on June 26, 1941 in St. Johnsbury, VT and grew up in Peacham, VT. Graduating from Peacham Academy in 1959 he went on to attain a Bachelors degree in Forestry from the University of Maine Orono; a Masters degree in Forestry from the University of Vermont in 1967 and his PhD in forestry from the University of Washington, Seattle in 1971. From there he had a 2 year post doctoral appointment at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. In 1973 he accepted a teaching position at the University of New Hampshire. From 1980 until his retirement in 2007, he worked at the Enviornmental Protection Agency in Washington DC. Upon retirement, he and his wife Michelle moved to Joplin, Missouri to be near her family.

Russ had an endless curiosity from an early age; including astronomy (he built is own telescope), and designing a winning futuristic model car for entry into a General Motor's contest during his high school days. Additionally, he loved building remote controlled model planes, fly fishing, sailing, flying (he attained his pilot's license), wilderness hiking, photography, bonsai (he was the president of both a local and regional bonsai society), woodworking including furniture building and lathe turning of many wooden bowls, water color and oil painting, and any trips with family to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a favorite spot for him. For Russ, life was a wonderful journey and now he leaves us to start a new journey. We wish him well.

He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Elizabeth Geddes, and his previous wife Michelle Zenon. He is survived by his wife Shelia Beckman of 6 years; his first wife Velma (Violette) Kinerson; their two sons and spouses Stephen and Sherry Kinerson, Greg and Holly Kinerson and grandson Ethan Kinerson and his wife Hanah all of Orono, ME. His siblings Donald and Nancy (Ramirez) Kinerson of Cleveland, TN, Ted Kinerson of Montpelier, VT, Carol (Kinerson) Scribner and her husband George of Barre Town, VT, eight nephews and nieces and Max and River the much loved cat and dog.

Cremation rites will be accorded by Adams Crematory and arrangements are under direction of Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.