Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Obituary: Bruce Kinneberg

Bruce Allen Kinneberg, 86, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., passed away on March 8, 2021.

Bruce was born in New Rockford, N.D. on May 16, 1934. He was the eldest son of Janet and Carl Kinneberg. Raised in New Rockford, Bruce graduated from New Rockford High School. He was a member of the high school band and football team, as well as a star runner on the track team. Bruce came in second place in the low hurdles at the Class B state track tournament. After high school, Bruce went on to serve in the U. S. Army from 1953 - 1955. His basic training was at Fort Riley, Kansas, and he then transferred to the paratroopers at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served in Kentucky in the summertime and Alaska in the winter time. He made 33 jumps, one of them when it was -50 degrees. After the army, Bruce moved to Minnesota to attend the University of Minnesota, where he earned an Associates of Arts degree. For the majority of his career, Bruce worked at Northwest Orient airlines. It was there he met his wife, Leona Kisch. They were married for 34 years, until she passed in 1992. Bruce and Leona settled in Inver Grove Heights, where they raised seven children.

Traveling was one of Bruce’s favorite things to do. Whether it was flying around the world, loading up the camper for family vacations, or a simple day trip on his motorcycle, he was always happy when on the road. Bruce especially loved getting out on his motorcycle. In fact, he rode a motorcycle in all 48 of the continental United States. Bruce was also an avid gun collector, Trap & Skeet shooter, and an award-winning pistol shooter for most of his life. He earned Lifetime Benefactor status with the National Rifle Association, an organization he first became a member of in 1968. Bruce was a true Jazz music fan, with an album collection to prove it. He saw many of the all-time greats live in concert, including Ella Fitzgerald and B.B. King. When asked what he’d do with all his free time in retirement, Bruce responded, “Same things I’ve always done, I’ll just have more time to do them.”

Bruce is survived by his children, Susan Kinneberg, John Kinneberg, Scott (Deanna) Kinneberg, Anita (Jeff) Donnelly, Paul (Ronda) Kinneberg, Nancy (David) Kelly and Karen Kinneberg, and by his brothers, Stuart Kinneberg and David Kinneberg. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Bruce is preceded in death by his wife, Leona Kinneberg, and son, Mark Kinneberg.

Visitation will be held from 4 – 8pm on Friday, April 9 at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. The funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 10, at Good Shephard Lutheran Church, 7600 Cahill Ave., IGH, with visitation from 10-11am. Interment will follow the funeral service at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.