Obituary of Jean Kirchner
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West Liberty, Iowa
Jean M. Kirchner, 80, died suddenly Tuesday July 20, 2010 at her home in West Liberty.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M. Friday July 23, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in West Liberty. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 6 P.M. at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. A memorial fund has been established.
Jean was born March 14, 1930 in Iowa City the daughter of Louis Raymond and Geneva Heintze Billick. She was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1948, attended Iowa State Teacher College and graduated from Muscatine Community College. She had taught school for many years, teaching at Laurel Hill country school near Wilton, South Prairie country school near West Liberty, Nichols, Atalissa and West Liberty retiring after 24 years.
On August 20, 1950 she was united in marriage to Ralph Kirchner in West Liberty. In addition to her teaching, she and Ralph farmed in the Nichols and West Liberty area for many years. In 1979 they began building Sunnyview Manor an elderly housing complex in West Liberty and operated it until it was sold in 1997.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church where she was active and had served as superintendent of the Sunday School program. She was also a member of West Liberty Women’s Club and formerly a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She and Ralph enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include her husband Ralph of West Liberty and one sister Joyce (Robert) LaKose of Clear Lake. Brother-in-law: LaMoyne Kirchner of West Liberty. Also surviving are Five nephews: Kurt, Jeff, Joel, Craig and Chad and a niece Karen; as well as numerous great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents.