Leona Myrtle Keiser (Kilpatrick), 86, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, February 11, 2018, at her daughter’s home in Caledonia, Ml. She was born on November 3, 1931 in Emmet County, MI, to Lawrence and Nina (Johnson) Kilpatrick. She was born at home, and her grandma delivered her.
Leona married Lyle Keiser Sr. her husband of 55 years, on May 14, 1953. She had six children, 10 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She grew up in Bliss Township and attended Bliss School and later graduated from Shepherd High School.
Leona worked at the state home and Embers in Mt. Pleasant and Morbark in Winn. She also cleaned homes until her retirement at 83 years old.
She was an extraordinary babysitter for her grandchildren and for many years also crafted grandiose multiple-tiered cakes for weddings and graduations. She is remembered for her strong work ethic, kindness, humor and willingness to help others. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Leona loved to go shopping and sightseeing. She could spend hours in a store, looking around for the perfect home decor, or piece of jewelry. At Christmas, she always bought or made personalized gifts for everyone special in her life.
She was a skilled quilter with a great talent for putting together colorful pieces and was a part of an extension quilting club in Bliss. In her spare time, Leona loved to sit and talk with her friends and family over a cup of coffee. She also enjoyed fishing, cooking, going to the movies and dancing.
No matter what, she always saved room for dessert. Her favorites were candy, pie, and ice cream. She was a kind-hearted woman who accepted people for who they were and always had a kind word to say.
She was the quiet and funny matriarch in a family of strong-willed, loud people. Leona loved spending her winters in Florida in the warm Sunshine. She is survived by her children Carol Vedrode Keiser (Jerry) of Bliss; Bill Keiser of Shepherd; Lyle Keiser Jr ( Kim) of Remus; Debra Donze Keiser (Stephen Chilluffo) of Caledonia; Jerry Keiser (Cindy) of Beal City and Brenda Keiser (Doug Styles) of Arizona; She is also survived by her sister Vera Nofzinger her only surviving sibling (Lester) of Six Lakes; She was preceded in death by her husband Lyle Keiser Sr and her siblings Gladys Bennett (Dick) of Bliss; Eunice Scheffler (Leo) of Kalkaska; Arlene Tippitt (Fred) of Bliss; Clayton Kilpatrick (Pauline) of Bliss; Leonard Kilpatrick (Anita) of Portland, Oregon; Leon Kilpatrick (Catherine) of Levering; Johnny Kilpatrick of Bliss and Don Kilpatrick (Remona) of Bliss.
Special thanks to her niece and nephew Sue and Oliver Mallory for helping Leona out through the years. Donations can be made to Bliss Missionary Church, 15 E. Sturgeon Bay Trail, Levering, MI 49755. A funeral service will take in May at the Bliss Missionary Church in Bliss Township, burial will follow in the Bliss Township Cemetery.
Actual service date will be announced later. Friends and family are also welcome to share memories or offer condolences online at www.
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