Reba Kiefer
Reba Kiefer
Oskaloosa. Reba Kiefer, 97, of Oskaloosa and formerly of Hedrick, died Friday, August 5, 2011, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born April 2, 1914 at Lacey, the daughter of Elvie Eli and Hattie Newport Bunting. She graduated from the Lacey High School with the class of 1930, and then William Penn College. On May 10, 1940, Reba was united in marriage to Armond Kiefer at Sigourney, and he died April 27, 1994. Reba taught school in Mahaska and Keokuk counties for 25 years, as well as being a farm wife. She taught 2nd grade in the Fremont School for 16 years, and retired in 1977. They moved from their farm near Hedrick to Oskaloosa in 1992. She enjoyed traveling with Armond; needlework; reading; entertaining company; and visiting with family and friends. Reba was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oskaloosa, and enjoyed attending the monthly Been-There-Done-That activities. She also was a longtime member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Her family includes her daughter and her husband, Janice and Larry Welch of Afton, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Jeff (& Marge) Welch of Afton, Nick (& Shannon) Welch of Shannon City, Iowa, Rebecca (& Scott) Nusbaum of Calhan, Colorado, Suzanne (& Joel) Black, and Doug (& Angela) Conrad, all of Keota, Jennifer (& Tad) Ross of Washington, Iowa, and Jannette Conrad of Mesa, Arizona; 16 great grandchildren; two sisters and their husbands: Eleanor and Roland Anderson of Oskaloosa and Jeanne and Frank Graybill of Mesa, Arizona; and special extended family: Merlin and Diane Conrad and Jared, Heath, and Audra Lyle.
Besides her husband, Reba was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters: Harriett Elizabeth Kiefer and Linda Conrad; a great granddaughter: Kristin Welch; two sisters: Vivian Foster and Irene Marshall; and three brothers: Harvey, Melbourne, and Vincent Bunting.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Ron Hodges officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery at Sigourney. Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Tuesday after 11 a.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel Tuesday from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. There will be a Rosary recited Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Memorials may be made the Reba Kiefer Memorial Fund.
Source: Bates Funeral Chapel
