Jean Kienzle Knight's Obituary
Jean (nee Hull) Kienzle Knight, 90, was called to her heavenly home on September 13, 2023 in Collinsville, Oklahoma. Services will be held in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 10 am. Burial will follow at Memory Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 pm Friday.
She was the widow of Dr. William “Bill” Kienzle, MD who was called to his heavenly home in 1963. Dr. Kienzle and Jean were the parents to two boys, Kenneth (Kenny) James and Dennis (Denny) John. Years later, Jean met and married James Knight with whom she shared a wonderful seven years until his passing in 1978 to cancer.
Born in Van Meter, Iowa she was the daughter of James and Florence Hull. She was the youngest of three girls who she was very close with. She attended Mercy School of Nursing in Iowa, where she received a degree in Nursing in 1952. She relocated to Texas with her husband Bill shortly after the birth of their son Kenneth. Longview would be her home for over 60 years. Her early years in Longview, she practiced as a construction nurse during the building of the Schlitz Brewery. She ultimately went on to be the school nurse for Hallsville ISD in 1965. She retired after 35 years of service in 2001 having become well know as the school’s “favorite” nurse.
A longtime member of Longview’s First Presbyterian Church, she often volunteered in the church nursery. In later years she became a member of Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Jean was an avid collector of Precious Moments figurines having had the opportunity to visit the Precious Moment Chapel in Missouri. Being the caring person she was, Jean was often referred to as “Momma Jean” by her son’s closest friends. She dearly loved people and always wanted to make sure everyone was well taken care of. You could often find her attending her grandkid’s many sports activities and she never missed a birthday or holiday with her loved ones. She enjoyed swimming in her pool, cheering on her Mavericks, Cowboys, and Rangers, and enjoying the outdoors.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Betty and Doris, and her husbands, William and James. She is survived by her son Kenny (Katie) Kienzle of Nowata, Ok and Denny (Leeann) Kienzle of White Oak, Texas; grandsons: William Kienzle and Christopher Kienzle of Ponca City, Ok, Justin (Ali) Kienzle of Tonkawa, Ok, and Kason Kienzle of White Oak, Tx. Granddaughters: Kristin (Jeremy) Herrin of Derby, KS. Kathryn Kienzle of Coweta, Ok, and Kara (Bradon) Oram of Hallsville, Tx. Her great grandchildren include Gavin, Aidan, Stathan Kienzle of Derby, KS. Aubry and Krayton Kienzle of Tonkawa, Ok. Elaina, Meah, and Emma Kienzle also of Tonkawa, Ok. Twins Rhett and Judson Oram of Hallsville, Tx.
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