John W. Kimball

South Portland – John W. Kimball, 77, passed away on October 3, 2025, at Kimball’s Garage Inc. John was born on September 15, 1948, in Portland, son of the late Warren and Mary (Lydon) Kimball.

John was born in Portland. He grew up in South Portland in his early years. The family moved to Michigan, where he enjoyed working and playing with his sister, Joanne, on Love’s Farm; and learned to drive on a ford 8n tractor. After a brief move to California, John returned to South Portland to finish school, graduating in 1967. He enlisted in the Air National Guard and attended tech school at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, testing out his auto repair course well ahead of time.

He was lucky enough to marry the love of his life, Rae Ellen Logan, raising two kids, Karen and Kevin. John was a dedicated family man never missing a game or event of the kids. Working booster clubs for year to support their athletic teams. He continued to enjoy his family, including grandkids. He balanced this with travel to the Caribbean with his wife, Rae, gaining many friends on the island of St. Marteen. When Rae became sick with cancer, he became her caregiver while running the business with the help of Andy Libby, his long-time coworker who was like another son to him. While his amazing care of Rae took a lot of his time, she was his primary focus at the end of her life, before she passed away in 2013 after 46 years of marriage. After Rae’s death he met and fell in love again with Irene Piper, who he married and enjoy extensive travel with many trips through Europe and the Caribbean. John often said most people don’t find love like he did once in his life, he was lucky enough to find it twice!

Kimball’s Garage was a great source of pride for him, formerly Kimballs gulf located where Amato’s is today on the corner of Evans and Broadway, moving into the current location in 1974 as Kimball’s Garage. He and Rae took the business over from his father and mother in the 1980’s. Working for and running the business for close to 60 years. His hard work and dedication were supported by his nephew Robert Van Der Meiren and Andy Libby, both he thought of like sons, and many others over the years. He took great pride in taking care of customers, some 3 and 4 generations of families that trusted him with their car’s care. He took his last breath doing what he loved at Kimball’s Garage still running his business every day.

John had many hobbies over the years including but not limited to competitive shooting both pistol and rifle competition, and he raced C class #71 for Kimballs Gulf in the late 60s and early 70s. Later, John was crew chief for his son, Kevin’s racing, and they enjoyed over a decade of many nights in the shop (races are won in the shop and every win was due to him and his dedication to the program) and every weekend at the track. In November, you could find him every weekend in the woods of Jackson, Maine hunting with his son, Kevin and his nephew, Bob Van Der Merien. He was proud to be able to teach them gun safety and how to hunt through their junior years of hunting. He was able to enjoy 40 years with Kevin and 50+ with Bobby in those woods. He was very happy last season when we all got nice deer. He enjoyed history and travel through Europe, going to many historic places with Irene on many vacations.

John was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Rae “Sugarae” Kimball. He is survived by his wife Irene Piper; children, Karen Kimball Young and her husband Don Young, and Kevin Kimball and his partner Marena Baldwin; grandchildren, Austin, Evan, Owen, Stanley, Carley, and Madelyn; and 2 great-grandchildren; sisters, Beverly Logan, Mary Lou, Joanne, Jane, Susan; special family members, Andy Libby, Robert “Bobby” Van DerMeiren, and Dave Tracy; nieces, nephews and many, extended family members.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 4pm – 6pm on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes of South Portland, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Memorial Service will be held at 10am on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the funeral home, internment to follow at Brooklawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 2002 Congress St. Portland.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in John’s memory to the Maine Military Museum, 27 Kavanaugh Rd., Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064, or online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WE7RPQBKFUMAS