Dr. Paul Kinsinger

Dr. Paul Kinsinger (1957-2016) was a 1976 graduate of Washington High School. He majored in biology at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1981. He then attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, graduating in 1986. He served his family medical residency at Baylor University in Houston, then worked for Group Health in Seattle.

Dr. Kinsinger opened Illini Family Medicine, a private primary care medical practice, with his physician brother, Lee, in 1991. The office was first located in the Cherry Tree Shopping Center in Washington. Paul and Lee developed a large thriving family practice and broke ground on a new building at 201 N. Cummings in 1999. He was a phenomenal physician and diagnostician. He was affectionately known by his patients as "Dr. Paul." Many of his patients expressed that he cared for them as individuals and patients. He practiced medicine until the day of his brain cancer diagnosis on Feb. 20, 2015. He served as medical director of Methodist Medical Center Hospice, Rosewood Nursing Home, Helping Hands Home Health, and most recently at Transitions Hospice. He was board-certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians and a part-time University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria faculty member.

He grew up in the Calvary Mennonite Church, was a member of First United Methodist Church in Peoria, and has attended Crossroads Church in Washington since 2009. His Christian faith was an important part of his life, and he made it his mission to share it with others, often by distributing copies of the book Dinner With a Perfect Stranger.

He was a board member of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, Washington Historical Society, and Washington Community High School, where he was an active member during the creation of the community center, which is now Five Points. He was also a board member of Central Grade School, where he presented his children with their 8th-grade diplomas. He was passionate about the future creation of a ring road around the community and the expansion of bike trails in the area.

He was a creative thinker, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed "idea guy." He was widely known throughout the community for his invention of Dr. Paul's Piggy Paste, a product that clears unsightly toe nails. He poured much of his time, energy, and resources into this business. The product was distributed nationally in 22,000 retail stores.

Those who knew him personally will remember that when asked how he was doing, he always said he was "incredible," even when he wasn't.