A three-term Republican member of the Cass County Board of Supervisors passed away Saturday, at his home in Atlantic. Charles “Chuck” Kinen, who had been re-elected to his fourth, four-year term, last Fall, had suffered from pancreatic cancer. Auditor Dale Sunderman says Kinen was first elected as a Cass County Supervisor in 1998. He assumed his duties on November 10th, 1998, following a canvass of the 1998 General Election.  He immediately succeeded incumbent Julie Schmidt, who resigned from the Board to move out of state, along with her husband, where he was moving his opthamology practice.  Kinen served as chair of the Board of Supervisors in 2006 and 2007.

Current Board Chair Duane McFadden said Kinen was a faithful public servant to the residents of Cass County.

Dmf1 (McFadden said Kinen would always strive to be at the various committee meetings he volunteered to attend, and he will be missed, because he played a role in moving the county forward.)

Kinen had been in hospice care for about two-weeks prior to his return home. McFadden said there is a process that is in-place to fill Kinen’s position on the board.

Dmf2  (He says the county auditor, treasurer and recorder will schedule interviews with persons who apply and are interested in filling the position.)

 It’s not clear how soon that process will begin, though, especially with the Labor Day weekend closing down the courthouse until Tuesday.

Funeral services for Chuck Kinen will be held Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. Duane McFadden said the courthouse will shut down for one-hour prior to and after the services at 11:30-a.m, so that county employees may attend his funeral.