Obit: Kieser, Frederick William (1926 - 2016)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kieser, Habeck, Zimmerman, Hodd, Brown, Bartz, Puhl, Rohlik Quade, Meshnick, Anderson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/17/2016

Kieser, Frederick William (24 August 1926 - 13 February 2016) With Flag

Fred Kieser, 89, of Neillsville died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, at the Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Frederick William Kieser was born Aug. 24, 1926, in Athens, WI, the son of Gottlieb and Stella (Habeck) Kieser. They moved to Abbotsford and Fred graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1944. He joined the United States Navy and served in World War II. Upon returning home from the war, he went to work for O & N Lumber Co. in Abbotsford. In 1956, he took a full-time job with the Army National Guard in Eau Claire as an artillery mechanic.

Aug. 11, 1957, he was united in marriage to Lois L. Zimmerman, in Manchester, WI. After they were married, they lived in Eau Claire. Fred was transferred to Neillsville in 1959 as the shop chief for organizational maintenance with the National Guard. Their first child, Douglas, was born in Eau Claire in 1960 and they moved to Neillsville in 1961. Fred was called to active duty that year for the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served with the 32nd Division in Fort Lewis, WA. Brian, their second child was born in 1962. In 1966, Fred was promoted to unit administrator for the Wisconsin Army National Guard in Neillsville. He stayed in that position until retiring in 1986. He was honorably discharge from the Army after serving a total of 40 years.

Fred was a longtime member of the Clark County Male Chorus. He was a member of the Neillsville Kiwanis Club for over 40 years and was the Lieutenant Governor for Division 16 of the Wisconsin and upper Michigan district of Kiwanis International in 1988-1989. For his service to the Kiwanis Club, he was presented the George F. Hixson Fellowship award, which was presented by his club. Fred was a longtime member of the Calvary Lutheran Church and sang in the church choir for over 40 years. He was also a longtime member of the Wilson-Heintz VFW Post #2241 and the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post #73 in Neillsville.

He is survived by two sons: Douglas Kieser of Minneapolis, MN and Brian (Kathryn) Kieser of Edina, MN; one granddaughter Zelda Grace Kieser; two brothers: Donald Kieser of Abbotsford and Dennis (Joan) Kieser of Thorp; five sisters: Doris Hodd of Abbotsford, Marilyn Brown of mason City, IA, Carol Bartz of Merrill, Muriel (Warren) Puhl of Menomonie and Marjorie (William) Rohlik of Eleva. Fred is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, Dec. 21, 2015; his parents; a sister, Dorothy Quade; a sister-in-law, Joann Kieser; three brothers-in-law, Kurt Bartz, Floyd Hodd and Quinton Quade.

A memorial service for Fred will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Chad Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Kathy Meshnick, organist, and the Calvary Lutheran Church Choir. Interment will be in the Markesan Cemetery in Markesan. Military honors will be conducted by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral home is assisting Fred’s family with funeral arrangements.