Timothy O. Kinney

Timothy O Kinney, 78, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026.

Born on September 18, 1947, and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Tim grew up in a large, lively family where hard work, humor, and connection were constants. Influenced by the waters of Lake Superior, the Soo Locks, and summers at Walter's Lake, he developed a lifelong love of the water and adventure.

A gifted athlete, Tim excelled in track, basketball, and football, earning the opportunity to attend Michigan State University. Though a devastating knee injury altered his football path, it never diminished his adventurous spirit.

After college, Tim backpacked solo across Europe before moving to Denver, Colorado in 1970 with his first wife, Pat Campbell, where they welcomed their daughter, Kendra. He managed five camera stores while building a future in the mountains, eventually relocating full-time to Winter Park in 1976.

In true mountain-town fashion, Tim wore many hats—working as a carpenter, teaching disabled skiers despite his own severe knee injury, and later working in the Henderson Mine repairing cave-ins.

In 1983, Tim and three partners founded United Dreamers of Fraser Valley (UDFV), building over 50 homes throughout the Fraser Valley. He later became owner of Crooked Creek Saloon and The Slope Nightclub, helping define Winter Park's social scene for decades through legendary gatherings, unforgettable nights, and live performances by artists including Bo Diddley, Arlo Guthrie, Hootie & the Blowfish, and The String Cheese Incident.

It was in Winter Park that Tim met his wife, Jill, in 1980. They married in 1987 and built a life centered on adventure, family, and community.

Tim lived boldly and fully. He spent his adult life boating—traveling the Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Powell, the eastern seaboard, the Canadian coast, and attempting the Inside Passage to Alaska. In 1996, after years of limitations from his football injury, he discovered snowboarding, calling it "a true resurrection." He went on to spend 60–90 days each season on the mountain, sharing that passion with family and friends.

A man of unwavering character, Tim believed "all you truly have in this life is your word." He showed up for the people he loved—both publicly and quietly—through celebrations, challenges, and everyday moments alike.

In 2017, Tim and Jill returned to Michigan when a heart condition made high-altitude living no longer feasible. They spent the next nine years enjoying family and lake life.

Tim is survived by his wife, Jill Kinney; his children, Kendra Joy Kinney, Jeena Lorraine Fuller (Emerson Fuller), and Jennifer Marie Kinney; his beloved grandson, Timothy Wilder Fuller; a granddaughter on the way; and his sisters, Bridget Lundy, Carol McClellan, and Kathy Kinney.

He was preceded in death by his parents Walter Sr. and Lorraine Kinney, and brothers, Walt and Danny.

To those who knew him best, Tim was larger than life—a storyteller, adventurer, protector, and steadfast friend whose presence made life fuller, more fun, and more alive.

A lakeside memorial will be held at Walter's Lake 8723 Lakeview Blvd Clarkston, MI 48348 on June 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

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