Arthur R. Kingery (82) of Peoria, Formerly Of Teutopolis
Published on September 26 2024 1:46 pm
A Memorial Mass will be Monday, October 14 at noon with a two-hour visitation prior to the Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Fr. Stephen Willard will officiate. A Celebration of Life will follow at 2 p.m. at East Port Banquet Center, 703 Mariners Way, East Peoria. Burial of ashes will be Tuesday, October 15 at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield.
Memorial donations may be made to Prairie State Legal Services, https://pslegal.org/donate or Southside Mission at https://southsidemission.org/donation.
Art was born January 20, 1942 to Marshall and Rena (Meyer) Kingery in Montrose, Illinois, the eighth of nine children. Art learned the value of hard work growing up on a farm north of Montrose near Teutopolis where he helped his family grow corn, wheat and soybeans, raised chickens and cows and learned to work with his hands to fix almost anything.
Art attended the University of Illinois for both undergraduate and law school, graduating with a Doctor of Law in 1966. Art had a distinguished legal career, practicing law for over 50 years. He spent his entire legal career with the firm he helped build, Kingery Durree Wakeman & O'Donnell, Assoc. He was a member of the Peoria County and Illinois State Bar Associations and the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association. In 2016 he was honored by the Peoria County Bar Association for his 50-plus years of service. He served as the attorney for Northern Tazewell Fire Protection District for 52 years, facilitating the purchase of their first ambulance. He also served as the attorney for Green Valley for 46 years. Art mentored many attorneys over the years and his colleagues will miss his sage wisdom and sense of humor. He particulary enjoyed the camaraderie of the lawyers who practied workers' compensation throughout Illinois.
At his 50-year class reunion, he saw in his Teutopolis High School yearbook that his wish for the future "to have his own law firm" had been realized.
Art was proud of his military service to our country, having served from 1967-1969 in the United States Army Armor Division at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, attaining the rank of captain. He took advantage of the G.I. Bill by obtaining his pilot's license and enjoyed flying for several years.
In 1963, Art married Dorothy Flood of Chicago with whom he had four children, three of whom survive: Richard Kingery (deceased), Patricia Huff of Peoria, Arizona; Lori Kingery of Washington, IL and Jennifer (Nathan) Hamler of Bloomington, IL.
Art later married Susan Miller of East Peoria on July 9, 1986; she survives. They had two children who also survive: Joshua (Rachel Lawson) Kingery of Pekin and Rena Kingery of Bellingtham, WA. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. One sister, Theresa Nuxoll and two brothers, Virgil Kingery and John Kingery, also survive.
Art was preceded in death by his parents, one son Richard; two brothers, Fr. Victor Kingery and William Kingery; three sisters, Vera Weishaar, Anna Goeckner and Mary Zerrusen and one son-in-law, Marty Huff.
Art was cherished for his generosity both to his family and friends. He treasured spending time with his family and taking all of them on vacation, particularly to Lake of the Ozarks. He loved hosting family gatherings which always included hanging out on his deck and raucous euchre games. His beloved dogs were never far from him, waiting for a treat. Art and Sue also loved to travel, having visited all seven continents.
For over 20 years he tailgated with family and friends at Illini home games, which always featured his signature Bloody Marys. He most recently tailgated at the Kansas game on September 7.