John Willis Kizler

KIZLER, JOHN WILLIS, 82, died February 21, 2009, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville. He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was born on July 28, 1926, in Baytown, TX and was the only son of Albert and Elizabeth Kizler. He married the former Adele Kindlinger, of Vienna, Austria and recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. He served in the Army as a combat medic with the 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow) in Europe during World War II where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and Purple Heart and took part in the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany on April 29, 1945. Dr. Kizler was a graduate of Northwestern University and received a Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University in 1957. A founding Peace Corps volunteer in 1961, Dr. Kizler went on to serve as a consul in the Diplomatic Service with assignments in Europe and West Africa. In 1967, he joined the Department of Agriculture in the employee training division. Dr. Kizler retired from Federal Government Service in 1982. He was awarded the Department of Agriculture Superior Service Award and holds two distinguished orders conferred in recognition of outstanding civil merit, the Latvian State Order of the Three Stars and the Panamanian Orden Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Dr. Kizler was a Washington area resident for over 30 years before moving to Louisville in 1994, where he continued to contribute to the community in numerous activities. He served as a volunteer for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Habitat for Humanity, and was a member of the American Legion Zachary Taylor Post 180. A wine aficionado, he was a member of the Fleur de Lis Chapter of the American Wine Society and served as a judge during the Kentucky State Fair wine competition. An avid inventor, he was awarded a patent in 1970 and two copyrights in the 1980s. Dr. Kizler is survived by his wife, Adele; and two sons, David of Phoenix, AZ and John of Fort Lee, VA; and five grandchildren, Ashley, Alyssa, William, James and Alexander. His graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 25 2009, at at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliffe, KY. Visitation is noon-1 p.m. Wednesday at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Funeral Home, 4400 Bardstown Road. His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Habitat for Humanity.