Kiefer, George

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 30 Nov 2012
• Obituary: 9 Dec 2012; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Death Record - Civil:
Name :George J Kiefer
Birth Date : 22 Jul 1940
Death Date: 30 Nov 2012
Last Residence :
State :

Obituary:
Kiefer, George John
With profound sadness, we mourn the death of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. George John Kiefer died on Friday, November 30, 2012, after a long illness from complications due to pneumonia. He was surrounded by his loving family: wife, Marilyn and daughters, Kathryn and Karolyn. George was born in 1940, to Mr. Carl Kiefer and Mrs. Hattie Skala Kiefer, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played on the Badger football team, and graduated with a BA in communications from Kent State University in Ohio. It was at UW, where he met his wife of 50 years, Marilyn Verstegen, from Neenah, Wisconsin. They were married on June 9, 1962, in Neenah. They spent their early married life in Wisconsin and Ohio, but the majority of their time together was in Michigan: Flushing, West Bloomfield, Northville, and Ann Arbor. George spent most of his career as an advertising sales executive in the newspaper industry: first, with Booth Newspapers in Michigan at the Flint Journal and Ann Arbor News, then at Gannett's Detroit News and Detroit Newspapers. He retired in 2001. George loved golf and was a long-time member of Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor; he was ready to play any time, any course. He proudly scored his one and only hole-in-one in a tournament in 1996, for which he won $10,000. George was a gourmet cook, always taking charge of and cooking for any occasion, even the smallest meal. His trademark was Christmas dinner, comprising standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding, double baked potatoes, asparagus, and Caesar salad. It took hours to prepare and enjoy this scrumptious meal. Always the life of the party, George loved to sing and dance. Grabbing the microphone with authority, George routinely led spirited renditions of such favorites as "Tom Dooley" and "Don't Fence Me In". On the dance floor, he excelled in the twist and the jitterbug. Above all, George's family came first: Marilyn, Kathryn and Karolyn, his grandchildren, Matthew Barnes and Emily and Zachary Ahern, always took precedence in his life. He was justifiably proud of them, always available for them, and derived much pleasure from their companionship. He is predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife, Marilyn Kiefer, of Ann Arbor; daughters, Kathryn Kiefer of Grosse Pointe, Michigan; and Karolyn (Dean) Ahern of Shelburne Vermont; grandchildren, Matthew Barnes, and Emily and Zachary Ahern; brother, Karl Kiefer of Columbus, Ohio; and niece, Kim Kiefer Kahn, of Maplewood, New Jersey.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, January 5, at noon at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Burial of ashes will take place at St. Margaret Cemetery in Nennah, WI. Please visit www.muehligannarbor.com to share a memory or sign the guest book. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of George sent to: Infectious Disease Patient Care Gift Fund Louis Perdue UM Medical Development 1000 Oakbrook Drive Suite 100 Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on December 9, 2012

George married Verstegen, Marilyn (daughter of Verstegen, Gerald Cornelius and Lamers, Margaret) [Group Sheet]