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Helen Fiese Obituary
Joan Fiese
Helen Joan (Kinnan) Fiese, of Brunswick, Ga., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. She was 98 years old.
Joan was born on Feb. 26, 1923, in the Kinnan family homestead home south of Cozad, Neb., into the pioneer family of James Elsworth and Helen Conety Kinnan.
Her education began at the age of 4 in the one-room country school near the Kinnan homestead, where her mother, and later her sister Ruth, had taught. In 1933, the family moved to Elwood, Neb. She graduated from Elwood High School in 1940, where she was active in the music and drama departments. She continued her education at the Von Unschuld University of Music in Washington, D.C., the University of Wisconsin and the University of Miami.
In 1941, as World War II was in progress, she accepted a position with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. During this time she met her husband, who was with the U.S. Army Military Police at the White House and a guard for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They were married on Feb. 11, 1945, in Elwood, Neb. They established their home in Beloit, Wis., and had two sons, Charles Robert and Richard Kelly. Joan was an organist in the Second Congregational Church, became a Life Member of the Pythian Sisters, was active in Altrusa International and honored by the YWCA for her contributions to business in the community.
She was secretary to the president of Adams Corp., a snack food company which later evolved into Adams International, where she was executive assistant until her retirement in 1988. When the company moved its headquarters in 1979, to Miami, Florida, the family moved to Miami. During this time she was a volunteer at the Miami Ronald McDonald House. On April 28, 1985 Joan accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Perrine, Fla. (now Christ Fellowship).
After her husband's death, Joan moved to Brunswick, Ga., in 1991 and in 1992, moved her letter to First Baptist Church where she was a member of the Faith and Hope Bible Study Class, Women's Missionary Union, a member of the church orchestra since 1996, an accompanist for soloists and pianist for Fellowship Club. She was also a pianist for the Brunswick-Golden Isles Women's Connection.
She was an avid antique car enthusiast and owned a rare 1920 Oakland sedan. She was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, the Pontiac-Oakland Club International, Oakland Pontiac Worldwide, Oakland Owners' Club International and the All American Oakland Chapter.
She was a long-time board member of Golden Isles Live (formerly the Brunswick Community Concert Association) and was made an Honorary Life Member in 2012.
Joan enjoyed traveling and toured a number of foreign countries.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents; and sisters, Verle Margaret (Adams) and Ruth Ione (Tilden).
She is survived by her two children, Charles (Phi) of Brunswick, Ga., and Richard (Robin) and grandson, Jackson Christofer of Early, Texas; nephews, Eugene Fiese (Kathy) of Ledyard, Conn., and James Adams (Judy) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and great-niece Janelle Watkins (Seth) of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Private interment will be in the Kinnan family cemetery, Cozad, Neb.
At Joan's request, there will be no service and no visitation.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff and Sunday School members of First Baptist Church, her deacon Dean Dodson, the employees of Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon, and the nurses, aides and staff members of Georgia Hospice Care (GHC) for their love, friendship, prayers, support and help.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Brunswick Music Ministry, 708 Mansfield St., Brunswick, GA; GHC Foundation, P.O. Box 15665, Savannah, GA; or a charity of your choice.
Berryman Funeral Home, in Cozad., Neb., is in charge of arrangements.
Family-placed obituary
The Brunswick News, October 30, 2021
Helen Joan (Kinnan) Fiese, of Brunswick, Ga., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. She was 98 years old.
Joan was born on Feb. 26, 1923, in the Kinnan family homestead home south of Cozad, Neb., into the pioneer family of James Elsworth and Helen Conety Kinnan.
Her education began at the age of 4 in the one-room country school near the Kinnan homestead, where her mother, and later her sister Ruth, had taught. In 1933, the family moved to Elwood, Neb. She graduated from Elwood High School in 1940, where she was active in the music and drama departments. She continued her education at the Von Unschuld University of Music in Washington, D.C., the University of Wisconsin and the University of Miami.
In 1941, as World War II was in progress, she accepted a position with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. During this time she met her husband, who was with the U.S. Army Military Police at the White House and a guard for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They were married on Feb. 11, 1945, in Elwood, Neb. They established their home in Beloit, Wis., and had two sons, Charles Robert and Richard Kelly. Joan was an organist in the Second Congregational Church, became a Life Member of the Pythian Sisters, was active in Altrusa International and honored by the YWCA for her contributions to business in the community.
She was secretary to the president of Adams Corp., a snack food company which later evolved into Adams International, where she was executive assistant until her retirement in 1988. When the company moved its headquarters in 1979, to Miami, Florida, the family moved to Miami. During this time she was a volunteer at the Miami Ronald McDonald House. On April 28, 1985 Joan accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Perrine, Fla. (now Christ Fellowship).
After her husband's death, Joan moved to Brunswick, Ga., in 1991 and in 1992, moved her letter to First Baptist Church where she was a member of the Faith and Hope Bible Study Class, Women's Missionary Union, a member of the church orchestra since 1996, an accompanist for soloists and pianist for Fellowship Club. She was also a pianist for the Brunswick-Golden Isles Women's Connection.
She was an avid antique car enthusiast and owned a rare 1920 Oakland sedan. She was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, the Pontiac-Oakland Club International, Oakland Pontiac Worldwide, Oakland Owners' Club International and the All American Oakland Chapter.
She was a long-time board member of Golden Isles Live (formerly the Brunswick Community Concert Association) and was made an Honorary Life Member in 2012.
Joan enjoyed traveling and toured a number of foreign countries.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents; and sisters, Verle Margaret (Adams) and Ruth Ione (Tilden).
She is survived by her two children, Charles (Phi) of Brunswick, Ga., and Richard (Robin) and grandson, Jackson Christofer of Early, Texas; nephews, Eugene Fiese (Kathy) of Ledyard, Conn., and James Adams (Judy) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and great-niece Janelle Watkins (Seth) of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Private interment will be in the Kinnan family cemetery, Cozad, Neb.
At Joan's request, there will be no service and no visitation.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff and Sunday School members of First Baptist Church, her deacon Dean Dodson, the employees of Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon, and the nurses, aides and staff members of Georgia Hospice Care (GHC) for their love, friendship, prayers, support and help.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Brunswick Music Ministry, 708 Mansfield St., Brunswick, GA; GHC Foundation, P.O. Box 15665, Savannah, GA; or a charity of your choice.
Berryman Funeral Home, in Cozad., Neb., is in charge of arrangements.
Family-placed obituary
The Brunswick News, October 30, 2021
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Published by The Brunswick News on Oct. 30, 2021.
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