COLFAX—William Patrick Kinsella, 73, of 2050 County Highway 5, Charleston, Ill., died Tuesday (Oct. 10, 2006) at the home of his sister, Kathryn Kirwan, in Colfax, Ill.
A graphic designer, sailor, and boat-builder, Bill was born January 31, 1933, in Merna, Ill., an identical twin son of Helen Sweeney Kinsella and Raymond Kinsella.
He grew up in the farm communities of Merna and Barnes; was a 1950 graduate of Holy Trinity High School, Bloomington; and, in 1954, received a BA in art education from Illinois State University. Following an Army tour of duty during the Korean conflict, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, and worked as a graphic designer in the Chicago area for over a decade.
In 1961, Bill married Kathleen Cummins, and sons David Sean Kinsella and Brendan George Kinsella were born in 1962 and 1964. Bill became a sailor while living Chicago.
In 1966, the family moved to City Island, New York to prepare the black schooner, Tortuga, to cruise to Miami. For the next three years, the couple lived and worked together aboard Tortuga with their two sons.
In 1969, the Kinsella family moved to St. Louis where Bill became an Art Director for The Maritz Corporation. During this period, the couple divorced, but, Kathleen (who became Mrs. Paul V. Mifsud) continued collaborating with Bill throughout his design career.
In 1973, Bill married Susan Rutledge of St. Louis. The couple settled in Fairfield, Conn., and, in 1977, a son, Daniel Raymond Kinsella, was born. This marriage also ended, but with mutual respect and affection, Bill's two marriages evolved into an extended family who shared many holidays and special events, often as part of the "Mifsud entourage."
In 1981, Bill joined Marketing Corporation of America in Westport, Conn. as a Corporate Art Director. From 1992 through 1999, Bill owned The Rogers Group, a graphic design firm in Fairfield, Conn., and, for several years, taught graphic design courses at Fairfield University.
In 1999, Bill retired from graphic design to concentrate on his lifelong avocation: sailing, building, and maintaining classic yachts, joining the Mystic Seaport construction team to build the wooden freedom ship, Amistad.
In addition to graphic design, watercolor painting, and sailing, Bill's passions included camping in a huge tepee in Vermont, skiing, guitar playing, travel, and running in the New York Marathon.
Completing a circle in 2002, Bill moved from Bridgeport, Conn. to spend his final years back home in central Illinois at a country home near Charleston.
Bill is survived by three sons: David Cummins Kinsella, Manassas, Va.; Brendan George Kinsella, Gaithersburg, Md.; and Daniel Raymond Kinsella, St. Louis; a sister, Kathryn Kirwan, Colfax, Ill., and a brother, Joseph, of Jackson, Wyo., as well as by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Bill is preceded in death by his mother, Helen, his father, Raymond, and his identical twin, Daniel, as well as by aunts, uncles, and in-laws in the Bloomington area.
Visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, 201 N. Harrison St., Colfax.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 107 West North Street, Colfax, the Rev. Carl LoPresti officiating.