In Memoriam- Lila Kuehnert

Lila Kuehnert

February 9, 1924 – August 2, 2020

Lila Catherine Gilbert Kuehnert, passed away early Sunday morning, August 2, 2020 comfortably in her home in Bethlehem, N.C. Born February 9, 1924 in Catawba County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Frank C. and Mary Virginia Moser Gilbert.

In addition to her parents, Lila was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Eldor Paul Kuehnert; brothers, Farrell Gilbert, Don Gilbert; brother-in-law, Arlen Kuehnert; sisters-in-law, Virginia Gilbert, Betty Kuehnert; and grandson, Jason Kuehnert.

Mrs. Kuehnert was very active and involved during her 96 years. Lila was born February 9, 1924 and raised in Conover, North Carolina. She graduated from Newton-Conover High School from the 11th grade, then NC offered the 12th grade and she graduated a second time. She attended Watts School of Nursing in Durham, NC for one semester. She returned to Conover and graduated from the former Mebane Business School in Newton.

In 1943, at 19, she moved to metro - Washington DC to work in the Pentagon during World War II. At the Pentagon she worked for Army Air Corps. Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold as a statistician. During this time, she had the opportunity to personally meet and talk with Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Roosevelt, and Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall. Later, wanting to do more for her country, and remembering Eleanor Roosevelt’s words to her “you can also do more “ and “you can be whatever you want to be”, she joined the Cadet Nursing Corps. As a member of the Cadet Nursing Corps, she worked and trained in Charlotte, NC as well as on an Indian reservation in central Montana.

After World War II, she received her Registered Nursing degree from Charlotte Memorial Hospital (Novant Health). While there she met a young pastor Eldor P. Kuehnert when she was an obstetrical head nurse in Charlotte. They were married in 1947 in her home church, Concordia Lutheran in Conover.

The young couple moved to Raleigh, where Mrs. Kuehnert was a private duty nurse from 1948 to 1949, as her husband pastored Our Savior Lutheran (LCMS) church. One of her patients at the time was Josephus Daniels, former Secretary of the Navy and Ambassador to Mexico. Her first child, Deborah, came along in 1949.

In the early 1950’s the young family moved to a small dairy farming community in western New York called “Pumpkin Hook” in the township of Farmington, where she and her family lived for over 30 years.

In New York, she raised her four children, Deborah, Daniel, Don and David together with her husband who was a volunteer fireman, a VA chaplain, and the minister at St. John’s Lutheran (LCMS) next to the parsonage.

She was most proud of founding one of the first pre-schools in the Rochester NY area, St. John’s Christian Preschool in Farmington, NY where Lila acted as a director and teacher from 1969-1976. The school is still in existence today where she was specially honored on the school’s 50th anniversary in 2019. 

She was a substitute nurse for the Victor Central School District which served their area. Mrs. Kuehnert was co-chairman of the first Victor PTA Scholarship Committee and was on the school district’s First Citizens Committee. She was a member of the Victor-Farmington Volunteer Ambulance Corps Board of Directors, the Rochester Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Lutheran Education Association (Department of Early Childhood Education).

She was active in local politics, was a town election inspector and was her party’s nominee to run for the Farmington Town Board. Lila and her husband Eldor were named Farmington Citizens of the Year for their community service. Lila held numerous positions while a member for over 30 years at St. John’s Lutheran Church including Sunday school teacher, member of the Ladies Society, Alter Guild, and treasurer of the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League.

For many years, in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Lila was a part-time journalist, often covering various area town and other local government meetings for area newspapers.

In 1985 she and Eldor, who was in semi-retirement, moved south to assist St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Marion, NC for a short period, before finally returning to her hometown of Conover, NC in the late 1980’s. There Lila ,with her husband became an active member in the church she grew up in, Concordia Lutheran. She was happy to be reunited with her siblings, Farrell, Bill and Don Gilbert. After her husband Eldor died in August of 2003, she moved a short distance to live with her daughter, Deborah in Bethlehem, where she resided until her recent death.

 

We give thanks for the life

 of this faithful servant in the Kingdom.

Connie Denninger

 

 

 

In Memoriam - Vivi Diefenthaler

Helene "Vivi" Provine Diefenthaler
of Columbia, MD,

 passed away on March 21, 2018. 

She was born on December 4, 1943, 

to Joseph Vona and Helene Gregory Vona. 

She was a member of
 Our Savior Lutheran Church,

 Laurel, MD.
As a young girl, 
Vivi was quite the horsewoman, 
winning many ribbons and trophies. 
A natural athlete, 
she ran many triathlons and marathons
 and also qualified 
and ran the Boston Marathon.

She enjoyed the running and working out 

to keep herself physically fit. Dancing, 

reading, singing in her church choir, 

and travel overseas were also great loves. 
She retired from the 
Howard County, Maryland Offices on Aging
as director of an adult day-care center.
Recently, she spent countless hours
 working with her husband 
for Lutheran World Relief.

She is survived by her husband,
Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, 

daughter Kimberly Lourenco (Thomas)

 of Olney, MD, 

and son Robert William Provine (Lena)

 of Los Angeles, CA, 
grandchildren Sarah, Isabelle, and James;

 Step-son Col. Andrew Diefenthaler (Beth)
 of Richmond, VA, 

step-daughers Kathryn Wiltse (Eric)
 of Sanford, FL,

 Lisa Woodson (Tracy) of Richmond, VA,

 and Heidi Bernardi (Sam) of Valparaiso, IN, 

and their children William, Henry, Luke, Chloe, 

Grace, Erin, TJ, Sammy, and Sydney. 

She was preceded in death by her parents-

 Joseph and Helene Vona.

Recently, I was blessed to spend 

a bit of time with Vivi 

at the Best Practices Conference in Phoenix.

Former Council of President wives
 and those serving now

gathered around a table for Visual Prayer.

We gathered for this fun photo too.

Here are some recent comments

 from our group:

"I am thankful that I had the pleasure

 of seeing Vivi recently 

and in my last sight of her

 she was joyfully dancing.

 I’m thankful for the joy of the Lord

 that she lived out in her life."

"I can see her now in heaven
 giving everyone a kiss 
on the cheek and dancing!! 
We celebrate the resurrections 
that she now enjoys!"

"Vivi was one-of-a-Kind, 
have had the pleasure 
of being with both of them 
at LIRS events since we all retired. 
She will be so missed especially
 by the grandkids 
she cared for on a daily basis. 
We will pray for the family."

"Vivi was always gracious & kind, 
taking time to notice each person
 and give an encouraging word.
 I remember her dancing 
the night away with Jon 
at a recent conference and laughing 
with some of us at our COP wives 
table at Best Practices. 
What life she had - 
and what LIFE she now has!"

Vivi with a smile that gifted us well.


Memorial donations in honor 

of Vivi may be sent to:

Lutheran World Relief

700 Light Street 

Baltimore, MD 21230

A memorial will be made in Vivi's honor

 from the Southeastern District 

Women's Ministry.

I give thanks for words of encouragement
 that were always the gift from Vivi to me.
She will be dearly missed.
Connie

Lois Schmiesing- In Memoriam

Lois Ann Schmiesing

July 02, 1927 - February 16, 2018

Lois Ann Schmiesing of Severna Park, MD joined her heavenly family on February 16, 2018. Lois was born July 2, 1927 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Louis and Leone (Reetz) Vogl. Lois grew up in Milwaukee and attended Mt. Olive Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was active in Walther League. Lois graduated from Washington High School in 1945.She attended Milwaukee Downer College before marrying Rev. Earl Schmiesing in 1946.

Lois was a supportive wife in Earl’s ministry. They worked in the mission field in Oklahoma and served at churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, New York and Maryland.

The door was always open to hosting visitors in their home. The house was a frequent place for youth group gatherings and Bible classes. Lois was a member of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for 71 years. She embraced the enthusiasm for mission work completed through these small groups of women both locally and internationally.

Lois’ interests included any activity in which her children or grandchildren were involved. This included Boy and Girl Scouts, Baseball, Softball, Football, Lacrosse, Basketball, Soccer, Dance, Band, Musicals, Cross Country and Track. She was an avid fan of the Oklahoma Sooners, Green Bay Packers,  Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles.

Lois is survived by three sons, Robert (Diana) of Fairfax, VA, John (Melody) of Tempe, AZ, Richard (Tracey) of Las Vegas, NV, a daughter, Beth Phillips (Kurt) of Arnold, MD, a daughter-in-law Valerie of Attleboro, MA. 10 grandchildren; Joshua Schmiesing, Nicholas Schmiesing, Christina Patton, Joseph Schmiesing, Melissa Schmiesing, Jason Schmiesing, Kimberly Gloss, Kathryn Phillips, Timothy Schmiesing, and Kelly Snook,    5 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces and a nephew.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl, her son, Paul, and a niece.

A memorial service will be held March 24, 2018 at 10:00am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 308 Oak Manor Drive Glen Burnie, MD 21061

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Chesapeake District LWML

1131 Old Stone Lane, Arnold, MD 21012

A Personal Note-

Sometimes it is a challenging road

 to live life as a pastor's wife.

In the early years in ministry,

 I was deeply impacted by her friendship,

 kind words, and always an encouraging heart 

when ever I was blessed to be around Lois.

She instilled in me the great need 

to bless the wife of a pastor

 with gracious words and a smile.

She leaves a grand legacy of living as a 

daughter of the King to her family, 

and in the ministry settings where she served.

She also modeled ways to lift up 

and bring words of hope

 to all of the women who serve

in the Kingdom.

I give thanks that our paths 

crossed on this side of eternity.

Connie Denninger