Jan. 26, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Lieselotte Hedwig Kiefer died peacefully at Cedar Community on January 25, 2017. Lieselotte was born on September 5, 1921 to Max and Hedwig (nee Geier) Wustmann in Bad Kudowa, Germany. As a youth, she enjoyed all winter sports, especially skiing and bobsledding. She was an excellent musician of the full size concertina and harmonica, playing in mountain hostels (resorts) with fellow youths before the war.
She was a trained dental technician and at the outbreak of World War II, she was a member of the Reichsarbeitsdienst and a crew member of an antiaircraft battery. She was wounded by a bomb blast causing her hearing loss.
She met her future husband, Rudolf “Rudy” Kiefer who was an interpreter with the United States Army Engineer Corps and a German immigrant himself in 1930. They were married on August 2, 1947 in Sheboygan. She was the first War Bride in Sheboygan after World War II. She earned her citizenship papers and was always proud of the fact she could recite the preamble of the Constitution as she proved many times to her friends and family. Her beloved Rudy passed away on January 24, 1994.
Lilo, as her friends call her, was affectionately known as Grandma to many. Her family was top priority and she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren beyond measure. She was an excellent homemaker and baker as well as an artist. She loved to knit and sew, and enjoyed her flowers beds and garden. Her house was home to many pets including two tarantulas. She loved to read western novels and books on Native Americans.
She was a proud and loyal member of the Women Of The Moose, West Bend Chapter 732 since 1993. She was a donor to the DAV and Paralyzed Veterans as well as the St. Labre Indian School. While at Cedar Community, at the request of her friend Kathy Elsesser, Lilo knitted over 300 hats for the military as well as special requests for items at children’s hospitals. Along with pictures and thank you notes from the units, she received a special commendation from Trees From Home for her efforts.
Lilo is survived by her son Bernard (Helen) of West Bend; grandchildren Richard (Kim) and Kristine (Tom) Costa and 5 great-grandchildren: Kenneth and Annmarie Costa and Zachary, Hailey and Bridget Kiefer, all of West Bend. In Germany, a sister Annamarie Neumann, nephews Hans-Jochem (Hydrun), Dieter (Angela) and Edgar Neumann, also Eva-Christina, Marie-Charlott, Christopher, Suzanna and Andrea Neumann.
She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a sister Erika Wustmann and a brother-in-law Heinz Neumann and many extended family members.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 31 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Schmidt Funeral Home, West Bend, with a prayer service by the Women Of The Moose. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, February 1 at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Kewaskum, with burial following in Washington County Memorial Park.
Memorials for the benefit of the family are appreciated.
The family is again being served by the Schmidt Funeral Home and Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Kewaskum.
A special thank you to Dr. Gary Herdrich and nurse Jill and Dr. Jeffery Young and nurse Colleen as were as her friends and staff at Cedar Community who took such excellent car of her during her residence.