Velma Kiester, 89, a resident of rural Kimmell and widow of Max J. Kiester, died at 1:43 p. m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne following a brief illness.
Mrs. Kiester was born in Green Township in Noble County on October 14, 1918, a daughter of Fred and Clara (Diffendarfer) Owen, and spent her formative years in that community.
On April 15, 1939 she was married in Noble County to Max J. Kiester. Early in their marriage the couple owned and operated a grocery at Etna, and moved to their farm home in Washington Township 60 years ago. Employed as a school cook, she retired in 1984 from the cafeteria at West Noble High School in Ligonier after over 25 years.
She was a member of the Ormas Baptist Church and its Missionary Society, and in her leisure time enjoyed gardening, reading, and spending time with friends. Most especially, she loved and enjoyed her family.
Mr. Kiester, well-known Noble County farmer, preceded her in death on May 11, 1999.
The surviving relatives include two daughters Judy (Paul) Geiger and Joyce (Tom) Beezley, both of Churubusco; her son Jim D. (Marsha) Kiester of Kimmell; ten grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Donna West in 2001; a sister Edith Bonar; and by four brothers Clarence Owen, Woodward Owen, Dale F. Owen, and Leo Owen.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Monday, March 3, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Rodney Schuler, pastor of Ormas Baptist Church, officiating.
The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Sunday from 2 to 8 p. m.
Interment will be in the Stringtown Cemetery, Noble County.
For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Ormas Baptist Church, 8962 North 300 West, Columbia City, Indiana 46725
To leave messages of condolence for the family, visit www.sheetsandchilds.net