This memorial website was created in memory of our amazing husband and father Kevin Minkel, 58, born on August 21, 1956 and passed away on June 26, 2015.
Funeral Information
Miramar National Cemetery
July 10th, 2015 9:30am
5795 Nobel Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
Reception to follow
94th Air Squadron
8885 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA
11:00am
Please feel free to leave your memories of our Dad and tributes below, we would love to read them. Also visit the life and stories sections for more about this amazing man.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to a foundation that helped support our family when we had four kids in college, the CHP 11-99 Foundation at
https://chp11-99.org/donations/
We will remember and miss him forever.
Tributes
Leave a tributeKevin served the people of the State better than most because he was among the best of the California Highway Patrol. I remember the day he told me he had gotten notice of assignment as a Sergeant. Talk about smiles...he indeed had one that day. A true FRIEND.
Bob Melton, ID. 3700
I remember taking care of you and your brother's when I was just a kid myself around 12 years of age. I'd get you and your cousins settled and playing games and think to myself, boy I hope I never have kids, they are so noisy and so much work. But I did have two wonderful girls and never regretted it.
Kev always made me laugh. His Irish wit which he got from his fraternal grandmother and his mother was top notch. He and his brothers were more Irish than the rest of the previous generation. He really had the blarney and the bull that went with the bloodline.
Kev was a man of simple wants and simple tastes. He believed in his God, but did not understand how his Church was changing. He believed in good men and justice. There was no compromise. He believed in partnerships on the force and inside of marriage. There was no alternatives. He was not a complicated man.
He raised four daughters with their mother. He struggled with his vices and his demons; nobody said he was a saint. He was so proud of his daughters. He could never say enough about them and was so proud of the men they picked to marry and hoped that they would remain with these men for years to come. He was given the gift of life by his Maker to remain here to see his grandchildren enter the world. He loved them more then they will ever know.
His legacy is his family; his daughters, their children and someday their children. He will not be here to see those people, but his stories will. He will live on in the hearts of those that knew him and in the hearts of those that are still to come. Kevin Minkel, we all love you, you old sod.
Leave a Tribute
Kevin served the people of the State better than most because he was among the best of the California Highway Patrol. I remember the day he told me he had gotten notice of assignment as a Sergeant. Talk about smiles...he indeed had one that day. A true FRIEND.
Bob Melton, ID. 3700
Great Roomate
Kevin, was a great roomate. I met Kim 8 years ago and was quickly thrown into the family tests. Kevin and Cheri were great, but her brother and cousin were not so easy to win over. After winning them all over with my charm and good looks, Kim took off to Italy for a year abroad. I was in the military living in an all male barracks on Miramar, so I decided to make Kevin and Cheri's my weekend house. They took me in and fed me with open arms, and I eat a lot of food. I spent many a late night listening to Irish music, watching movies (Dr. Stranlove and Zulu), and listening to Kevins Cop and Military stories, many of which I heard multiple times. I lived with Kevin and Cheri the whole time Kim was in Italy, and Kim and I moved in with them after the milatary.
Kevin was a great man. He would always crack me up, and tell you anything about history you wanted to know. He was a great father to his dauthers, and his son in laws, and I will never forget him.
This is one of Dad's fav songs
This is one of Dad's fav songs
A Great brother in law
Awe Kevin, I have so many memories but non stand out more than the night we played dress up with your hats. We laughted so hard my stomach hurt for days. sledding down the hill in from of your Cheney home, until I cracked my head on the street... and still we laughted. it was always like that with you. Your korny jokes and the stories you loved to tell kept everyone who knew you smiling. You were the best brother in law a person could hope for. You were certianly loved by many, respected by all