Norman Kingery

Funeral services for Norman Kingery, 86, of Knoxville, will be held Monday, February 16, 2026,
at 11:00 a.m. at The Columbia United Methodist Church. Family will receive friends prior to the
service beginning at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held following the service at The Columbia
Fire Station/Community Center. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Columbia United Methodist Church.
Norman was born July 1, 1939, near Gosport, Iowa, to Ray and Lorain Kingery. He attended
elementary school in Gosport and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1957.
He first met Eileen Richards while riding the school bus, then years later they reconnected while
standing up in their best friends’ wedding. They were married on March 8, 1959, right in the
middle of a March blizzard. Together they raised two sons, Timothy and Jody.
Norman grew up on the family farm near Gosport, helping with dairy cows and whatever chores
needed doing. He was active in 4-H as a kid and later became a leader when his own children
joined the Friendly Fellows 4-H group. In high school, he served as president of the FFA chapter.
He was a hard worker his whole life, but he always made time for his boys. He played ball with
them, showed up for 4-H, Boy Scouts, and school events, and taught them how to work by
bringing them along on extra construction and remodeling jobs.
Norman worked maintenance and custodial jobs for the Knoxville Schools, drove a school bus
for a time, and worked off and on for many years at Spahn and Rose Lumber Yard. He was also a
carpenter.
He and Eileen loved square dancing and music festivals, traveling and camping at events all over
the Midwest. They were very active at Columbia Methodist Church, whether it meant taking on
remodeling projects or simply lending a hand wherever help was needed. Columbia was always
home. They especially enjoyed community traditions like the haunted barn and blocking the
roads.
Norman liked to fish and meet friends for coffee. He had a great sense of humor and loved to
tease—especially if he could get someone just a little riled up. He considered that a win.
Norman passed away on February 11, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen
Kingery; his parents, Ray and Lorain (Betterton) Kingery; and his siblings, Patricia Wallace and
Richard (Shirley) Kingery.
He will be deeply missed by his sons, Tim (Laura) Kingery and Jody Kingery; grandchildren
Steve (Jordan) Kingery, Ashley Kingery, Jessica (Joey) LeMay, John (Nicole) Kingery, and
Caleb (Madysinn) Kingery; great-grandchildren Morgana, Wilder, Taylor, Reed, Ayva, Asher,
Kali, and Hudson; brother-in-law Dean Wallace; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and
friends.