Daniel Anthony Kinkelaar

Daniel Anthony Kinkelaar, 78, of Witt, IL, passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. in his home.

Dan was born on July 30, 1947, in Effingham, IL, to Andrew W. and Philomena C. "Minnie" (Bloemer) Kinkelaar, the youngest of ten children.

He was a 1966 graduate of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, IL, and of the Catholic faith.

Dan married Carol Chamberlain and they later divorced. He married Eileen Louise "Weegee" Cordani on August 24, 1988; she survives in Witt, IL.

He is survived by 3 sons and 1 daughter, Shawn Kinkelaar of Effingham, IL, Brad (LeAnn) Kinkelaar of Newport Coast, CA, Angie (Tim) Moore of Bloomington, IL, and Drew (Brandy O'Malley) Kinkelaar of Witt, IL. Also surviving are 4 grandchildren, Olivia Kinkelaar, Ava Kinkelaar, Griffin Moore, and Landon Moore; two brothers and one sister, Paul (Judy) Kinkelaar, Betty Brown, and Jean (Janice) Kinkelaar; and one sister-in-law, Pat Kinkelaar.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters, Andrew and Anna Kinkelaar (both in infancy), Leanora Runde, Leonard Kinkelaar, Wilbert Kinkelaar, and James Kinkelaar; two brothers-in-law, Ronnie Brown and Gene Runde; and sister-in-law, Jeanie Kinkelaar.

Dan spent many years in the beer and liquor distribution industry, working for Jewell Fisher Liquor Distribution and Koerner Liquor Distribution, both in Effingham, IL, and Ronchetti Distributing in Nokomis, IL, where he served as manager and public relations, taking great pride in building relationships with customers and was known for his friendly personality, genuine conversations, and dedication to service.

Dan especially enjoyed traveling throughout the region, visiting taverns and connecting with people and sharing stories along the way. His warm smile, outgoing nature, and ability to make friends wherever he went left a lasting impression on countless customers and colleagues.

Those relationships he built carried over into his ownership of Kink's Korner in Schram City, IL, and later into his retirement in 2017.

Dan's presence will be missed, but his stories and spirit will carry on.

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