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

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

Last week, dad left a gnome in my yard with a note saying his name was Mitch and he was going to defend my yard.  He denied doing it saying the gnome was magical and that I would probably find him in different spots - as gnomes will go where they please.  I have no doubt that he planned to keep the joke running by sneaking into my backyard to move him around and attempt to freak me out. :)

This is just the kind of guy my dad is.  3/4's goofball and willing to play the long game for joke. But only my dad would buy a garden gnome with a gun. :)

Mitch is now the most treasured plastic garden gnome anyone has ever had.

Kevin Vincent Minkel was many things to many people, a son, a brother, a husband, a high school football star, a staff Sergeant in the Air Force, A CHP Sergeant, a Chargers and Seahawks fan and to us an amazing father. But he wasn't just our Dad, he was our hero. He risked his life every day on the roads, at wild fires and even the LA riots. Then came home to 4 daughters, which could not have been easy during those high school years! I remember sleeping in his purple high school football jersey every night as a little kid, until it was too destroyed to wear. I remember staying up super late talking and listening to crazy Irish music with him or letting us put on boxing gloves and go after him...he always won. I remember every time he walked out the door in his uniform for work we would always tell him, "don't fall down". He was always there for us no matter what we needed. Like the time Kathy and I ran out of gas, at a gas station but didn't know you could buy gas without a gas card... He drove out to us and laughed while he explained we can buy gas with cash. You really do have to teach kids everything! He was the funny silly type of Dad, always trying to make us laugh and doing funny things that people wouldnt expect to be him.  I'm so incredibly grateful for the 30 year I had with him and for time he had with his grand kids. We will make sure they grow up knowing what a loving, incredible man their grandfather was, and that he would have given anything in the world to be here with them still. We will always love you Dad and know your watching over us from above.

Love Always,

Your Number 3, Krissy