James L. Kinne, 72, Erie, died Tuesday, Feb, 7, 2012 at Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in failing health the past year.

He was born April 13, 1939, on a farm near Erie, to Orton Albert Jr., and Gladys Moses Kinne. He graduated from Erie High School in 1957 and from Parsons Junior College in 1959. In 1963 he graduated from what is now Pittsburg State University and then attended Officer’s Training School from February through April of that year.

On May 12, 1963 he and Barbara Gibson, daughter of the late Loyd and Mildred Gibson of Galesburg, were married at the United Methodist Church of Galesburg. After their marriage, Jim and Barbara left for his first Air Force assignment at L. G. Hanscom Field outside of Boston, Mass.

During the rest of his Air Force career he served in Massachusetts, served two tours at Elmendorf Air Force Base at Anchorage, Alaska, was at the Charleston Radar/Control site in Maine, was commander of Kotzebue Radar/Control site above the Arctic circle in Alaska, and was senior director at Udorn Radar/Control site at Udorn Air Force Base at Udorn, Thailand during the Vietnam War. His last assignment was in Norad Cheyenne Mountain outside of Colorado Springs, Colo. He retired from the Air Force in February of 1983 and worked at a technical studies and analysis company as a technical analyst until he and Barbara moved back to Erie on Oct. 21, 1988.

After returning to Erie he served on the Erie City Council for eight years and as Neosho County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for five years. He has been very active in the American Legion, serving as Post Commander, Adjutant of the George L. Hendricks Post #102 and District Vice Commander, Commander and Kansas Department Master-at-Arms. He was very involved in the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy held at the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center in Salina. He had served 22 years as post, district and state chairman for this great youth program.

Survivors are his wife, Barbara Kinne, of the home; a sister, Kathryn Klingenberg Wichita; an uncle, Junie Moses and his wife, Priscilla, Standfield, Ore.; a niece and several nephews, numerous cousins and special second cousins.

Jim and Barbara truly enjoyed their life together. They enjoyed fishing, especially in Alaska, traveling and having a Labrador retriever as their sons or daughters (and at the present time, Maggie Mae).

Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at the East Hill Cemetery in Erie, with military honors given by the George L. Hendricks Post #102, American Legion. Friends may call to register at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 1 p.m., to 8 p.m., on Sunday. Memorials are suggested to the George L. Hendricks Post #102, American Legion. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 182, Erie, KS 66733.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com