Jean Kieser

MEADOWS - Jean E. Kieser, 87, of Meadows, formerly of Bloomington, Ill., passed away at 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2015, at the Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, where she had been a resident.

Jean was born on Nov. 17, 1927, in Peoria, Ill., a daughter of Arthur and Helen Warren Shipp. She married Louis E. Kieser on Nov. 29, 1947, in Peoria. He passed away on June 7, 2004.

Survivors include five sons, Robert (Laura) Kieser, David (Wilma) Kieser and Paul (Karen) Kieser, all of Bloomington, Ill., Carl (Rebecca) Kieser of Gibson City, Ill., and Dan (Lora) Kieser of Bluffton, Ind.; four daughters, Bonnie (Steve) Kaeb of Paxton, Ill., Mary (Nick) Kuenzi of Salem, Ore., Emily (John) Maurer of Saybrook, Ill., and Barbara (Tim) Spencer of Bloomington, Ill.; one sister, Phyllis (Keith) Porch of Weslaco, Texas; three brothers-in-law, Richard Kieser of Pekin, Ill., Alfred (Marie) Kieser of Morton, Ill., and Albert Kieser of New Port Richie, Fla.; two sisters-in-law, Anna Kieser of Peoria, Ill., and Alice Snodgrass of Jonesboro, Ark.; 40 grandchildren; 82 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one daughter, Marie; one granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.

Jean was a lifetime homemaker and gardener and a great cook. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be remembered for her quiet nature, kindness to those in need and her love for Christ.

She was a member of the Bloomington-Normal Apostolic Christian Church, where funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today, March 6, 2015. Church ministers will officiate. Visitation was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church and will be one hour prior to services today. Burial will be at 1 p.m. today in Scoggin Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in El Paso is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community Kitchen or Station 2 at Meadows in Chenoa, Ill.

Online condolences may be directed to www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Murphy, Dr. Eric Farinas, Dr. Sam Steffen and the entire staff at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community for the loving care given to their mother.