Norman "Mikey" Kiese

A Life of Love, Service, and Song

A Tribute to Norman "Mikey" Kiese

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…"

1 Corinthians 15:52

Today we remember and honor the life of Norman Michael Anthony Kiese. Our Mikey, and to some who knew him well, "Rankin".

Mikey was born on May 6, 1959, in Ocho Rios, Saint Ann, Jamaica, to Claire and Joseph Kiese. From the very beginning, there was something steady about him. Something disciplined. Something strong.

As a young boy at Claremont Primary and later at Ferncourt High School, he stood out. Not just for what he achieved, but for who he was becoming. His love for service began early, shaped in the Jamaica Cadet Force under the mentorship of Mr. Zacheus McKnight. Structure. Honor. Commitment. These were not just words to him. They were a way of life.

In 1977, he migrated to Hackensack, New Jersey. Just two weeks after arriving, he joined his brother, enlisting in the United States Navy. Courageous. Decisive. Ready to serve.

But, while he was a man of discipline, he was also a man of deep feeling.

Mikey loved music. He did not just listen to it. He lived it. He played the trumpet with heart and intensity. He spent countless hours in recording studios, writing, composing, and refining. He was a poet, a creator, a storyteller. Music was the language of his soul. When words were not enough, melody carried what he felt. And those who heard him play understood that it was more than sound. It was expression. It was testimony.

In 1988, he met Mariana, and together they built something lasting. A life rooted in love. A home anchored in strength. A family grounded in devotion.

He raised Barbara and Junito as his own, not by obligation but by choice. He guided them. Protected them. Showed up for them. He gave them the kind of fatherhood that shapes a life.

Then came the grandchildren. Twelve in all. And seven great-grandchildren. Each one touched by his presence. He did not sit on the sidelines. He helped raise them. Corrected them when needed. Encouraged them always. Taught them right from wrong. Loved them fiercely.

He even opened his heart to foster children, welcoming them into his care and giving them stability, dignity, and belonging.

Mikey's presence brought comfort. His words brought direction. His love brought unity.

Mikey's life was not measured in titles or possessions. It was measured in impact.

In the music that still echoes.

In the values that still stand.

In the family that still gathers.

In the love that still holds us together.

And today, as we grieve, we do not grieve without hope.

For the Word reminds us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We trust that Mikey has heard the words every faithful servant longs to hear: "Well done."

The trumpet he played on earth may be silent to our ears, but heaven is not silent today. Heaven rejoices. Heaven receives him. And we believe that one day, when our time comes, we will hear that sound again.

Until then, we hold to the promise that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal, and the assurance that death is not the end, but a transition into eternal rest.

Mikey has laid down his labor. He has finished his race. He has kept the faith.

And though we release him with tears, we also release him with gratitude.

For his life was a gift. His love was a covering. And his legacy is eternal.

Rest well, Mikey. We will carry your song forward until we meet again.

Mikey was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Kiese. And today, he leaves behind his mother Claire, his beloved wife Mariana, his children Barbara and Junito, his siblings Veronica, Dorothea, Monica, Lenworth, Marcia, Althea, and Myrna, along with Uncle William, Aunt Zenia, nieces(13), nephews(6), grand-nieces(8), grand-nephews(14) and one great grand-niece, to carry his imprint forever.

Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family on Friday, March 20th 2026 at 10:00 AM at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06619, for viewing and Funeral Service. Burial will follow at CT State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT 06457. Please join us following the burial at Sunsplash Bar & Grill, 428 Franklin Ave, Hartford, CT 06114 for fellowship as we continue to celebrate Mikey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Norman Michael Anthony Kiese may be made to Integrity Children's Fund at: https://givebutter.com/NormanKiese

For Livestream of Mikey's Homegoing on March 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM please see below.