Joseph (Joe) Wilden Kynaston returned home to his Heavenly Father, and joyfully reunited with his loving eternal companion Kathie, in the early morning hours of December 13, 2023. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Eagle, Idaho.
He was born on April 1, 1945 in Ogden, Utah to Joseph Earl Kynaston and Vaunda Mary Waite. An April Fools’ baby, his father was presented with his new baby with a pink bow in his hair by the doctor and told that Joe was a girl. Though born in Utah, he was a lifelong resident of Idaho, primarily growing up in Star and Nampa. After a brief stint living in Boise in his early married years, he settled with his young family on a small farm in Eagle with the goal of making sure his children learned how to work, with plenty of play along the way too.
The oldest son of seven children, Joe joined the family with three doting older sisters, including identical twins Karma (Gerald) Waltman and Karen (Jim) Baker, and Lynell (Carl) Hamilton. Three younger siblings later joined the family, including Marilyn (Roger) Transtrum, Dorel (Chris), and Clora (Chris) Keys.
From a young age Joe learned the value of hard work and perseverance. He spent much of his formative years living and working on a church dairy farm. In fact, when his family took a trip to Disneyland, Joe got to stay behind to milk the cows. He was active in his high school, excelled in sports (especially baseball) and other clubs, and graduated from Nampa High School in 1963.
As a young man, following a year at Brigham Young University, Joe served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assigned to the New England States Mission. During his mission, Joe had the privilege to serve under two mission presidents, Truman Madsen and Boyd K. Packer. Upon returning from his mission, he determined to pursue a career in the emerging field of computers and took a course in data processing at a computer tech trade school in Kansas City, Kansas. This training eventually led to a long career in computers, including 33 years managing IT and network systems for Ore-Ida Foods in Boise. He later started his own business, Joe’s Computers. As a true jack of all trades, he worked hard to provide for his large family. There wasn’t anything that Joe couldn’t fix.
On August 1, 1967 he married his sweetheart Kathleen (Kathie) Transtrum for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. Joe fell head over heels in love and tagged along with Kathie and her date to a dance where he made sure he was the first one to dance with her, and the one to bring her back home. He proposed nine days later. Their life-long partnership and complementary gifts and talents allowed them to accomplish many great things together while raising their large family. Any plan or project on Kathie’s list, Joe could make it happen. They were happily married for over 52 years at the time of Kathie’s passing on Halloween 2019. Joe missed her every minute of every day since.
Joe was a diligent, faithful, and loving husband and father. He cherished being a father to his eight children. He and Kathie endured the agony of the death of their seven year-old daughter, Natalie, in 1988. Together they led their family in love, exemplified their faith in Jesus Christ and the power of his Atonement; showing their children by their actions that they knew God lives and that Jesus is the Christ and the source of all hope. This tragedy became a defining moment in their family leaving an indelible bond.
He served faithfully for his church in many callings and capacities, including 7 years as Bishop of the Star Ward, bishopric counselor, Scoutmaster, home teacher and ministering brother. He loved the youth of the Church, and spent many nights camping with the young men, chasing off bears, finding lost boys, going on high adventures, counseling and teaching them around a campfire. An avid scouter, he attended Woodbadge and used the skills learned to bless the lives of many men and boys. Joe and Kathie later served a full-time mission in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. Joe also served as a temple ordinance worker in both the Boise and Meridian, Idaho Temples. In his later years, Joe served as a service missionary at the Bishop’s Storehouse and loved interacting with the patrons, using his love language of friendly teasing to help the recipients of his service feel at ease.
He was the loving patriarch of his family. He loved to gather with his children and grandchildren in the great outdoors. He gleefully pulled his kids and grandkids behind his old boat (affectionately called ”The Green Pickle”) on water skis, wakeboards, and tubes to screams of delight. He also loved to prepare Dutch Oven delights for his family while camping. Kathie and Joe would plan yearly camping trips to beautiful Cascade Lake creating countless fond memories for her children and grandchildren.
In more recent years Joe began to suffer from dementia and memory loss. Yet, when names, places, and many other things were forgotten, one thing always remained: his unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel. To the end he shared with his family his knowledge that because of Jesus Christ, we can be together forever. Throughout his life, he believed and practiced the adage that the way to show our love for God is by loving and serving others. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who were privileged to know him. His family rejoices in the grand reunion in heaven with his beloved Kathie, and their daughter Natalie, his dear parents, three sisters, Kathie’s parents, and many other loved ones who have gone before.
Joe is survived by his children Dean (Tawnya), Katie (Kirt) Nielsen, Andrew (Amelia), Michael (Cherilyn), Suzanne (Kaleb) Tracy, Patrick (Gina), and Matthew (Cara), his forty-two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, beloved siblings and siblings-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other dear friends.
His family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the loving ministering provided to Joe by the Park Lane Ward.
Funeral Services will be held in the Park Lane Ward Chapel,1133 N. Park Lane Eagle, ID 83616 on Thursday December 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held on Wednesday December 20, 2029 at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay, Garden City, Idaho 83714 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., with a second visitation Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. just prior to the funeral. Internment will be in the Dry Creek Cemetery in Eagle, Idaho immediately following the funeral.
For information regarding donations contact Andrew Kynaston via phone, text or email: 702-245-3137 anaclan@gmail.com.
To watch the service go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAC4NEUVNYM