Obituary of John Kingham

John Kingham was born July 14, 1926, on his grandfather's homestead in Garfield Twp., Norton County, Kansas, the oldest son of Orson Oliver Kingham and Katherine Fern Scott. John died at the Andbe Nursing Home in Norton on July 12, 2013, at the age of 86, just two days short of his 87th birthday. He lived and worked on his farm in Aldine Twp. nine miles northwest of Norton since 1957. John attended the Salem Country School just two miles northwest from the family farm. Being the oldest son, a lot of responsibility rested upon him, and when he finished the 8th grade, he worked as a man beside his father, often times wishing that he was back in school. Named after his grandfather, John was the third generation of Kingham's to live on his grandfather's homestead. Shortly after his 21st birthday, John rented a farm close to his parents and began to correspond with Anna Sauer who was working in Boulder, Colorado. After meeting, the two young people fell in love and were married July 30, 1948, in Benkelman, Nebraska. To this union six children were born: Ivan, Joyce, Norman, Janis, Doris, and Donna. John and Anna are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A very hardworking and generous man, John spent all of his life farming in Norton County. A kind man, John was always ready to put down his work and help a neighbor in need. One year he drove the school bus. He served on the township board for many years and also served on the soil conservation committee for a few years. After the children were grown, John started collecting antique tractors, many of which he restored. He also restored many windmills, some of which were the old wooden ones, and one of which is on the Kingham farm. John donated a lot of time working for the S.P.P.A. in Almena. He donated many of the windmills and helped to restore many of the buildings for the S.P.P.A. He enjoyed participating in the annual Power Show, and brought many of his restored antique tractors for family members to drive in the show. Survivors include: his wife, Anna; sons, Ivan (Joyce) Kingham, Norton; and Norman (Marjorie) Kingham, Almena; daughters, Joyce, (Ray) Royal, Sedgwick, Kansas; Janis Kingham, Lincoln, Nebraska; Doris (Darryl) Watts, Wellington, Kansas; and Donna (Steve) Tanner, Norton. Also surviving are his brother, Orson (Janette) Kingham, Las Vegas, Nevada; and sisters, Clara Linza, Salida, Colorado; Rena Sinclair, Loveland, Colorado; Katherine Donaldson, Clifton, Colorado; and sister-in-law, Karoline Kingham, Norton. Eleven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren with two more on the way, and many nieces and nephews also survive him. John was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Minnie Kingham, Loveland, Colorado; brother, Fred Kingham, Norton; young sister, Orene, sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Brig John, Las Vegas, Nevada; sister and brother-in-law, Abbie and Ernest Sauer, Norton; brother-in-law, Charles Sinclair, Loveland, Colorado; brother-in-law, Robert Linza, Salida, Colorado; brother-in-law, Walter Donaldson, Clifton, Colorado; four infant siblings and one infant great-grandson. A memorial has been established to the John Kingham Memorial Fund.