Elizabeth A. Kiefer's Obituary
Elizabeth (Beth) A. Kiefer, age 69, passed away April 6, 2021, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Beth was born June 25, 1951, in Sterling, IL to William J. and Marjorie A. (Jeffery) Tonkin. She married James C. Kiefer on May 30, 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. For most of her career, she was an early childhood education teacher in the Decatur Public Schools at the Vocational Center. In her retirement, she worked in the office at Romer Bros Tree & Shrub Service. She loved her family, the beach, and the Chicago Cubs. One of her fondest memories during retirement is living in Wrigleyville in Chicago for two years and going to baseball games all summer.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jim; children Christan (Todd) Royer of Bloomington, IN and Benjamin (Susie) Kiefer of Libertyville, IL; grandchildren Lily, Daniel, and Ryan Kiefer and Sadie Royer; brother Robert (Jeanne) Tonkin; sister-in-law Lennie Tonkin; and many nieces and nephews she loved.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents and her brother William J. Tonkin.
Graceland Fairlawn is assisting the family with arrangements. A visitation for Beth will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 1:00-2:30 PM at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home, Decatur. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Beth’s honor may be made to Special Olympics of Illinois or OSF Healthcare Foundation.
The family would like to extend its deepest thanks to those who provided care to Beth over the last several decades, especially to Dr. James McGee and the nurses and staff at OSF in Peoria.
Memorial donations can be made to Special Olympics: https://www.soill.org/
or OSF Hospital Foundation: https://www.osfhealthcarefoundation.org/
Arrangements by Graceland Fairlawn Home and Cremation Center, N. Oakland Ave, Decatur, IL 62526. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.moranandgoebe.com
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