Kristine F. Grizel
GRIZEL, KAEFRING, ROHRET, DOLEZAL, LEIST, GALLAGHER, JANS, HUTCHINSON
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 1/29/2024 at 08:10:43
Kristine F. Grizel, 75, of Iowa City died Christmas morning at Stirlingshire Memory Care in Coralville after a short illness. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 PM on Friday, December 29, 2023, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City with a rosary recited at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Heart Association.
Kristine Frances Kaefring was born October 27, 1948, in Iowa City, Iowa, daughter of Paul Glen Kaefring and Vera Caroline (Rohret) Kaefring. The second of six children, she spent her childhood on the family farm fifteen miles west of Iowa City. She graduated from Regina Catholic Education Center in 1966. She went to college at Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids and then The University of Iowa.
On December 28, 1968, Kris married Robert Joseph Dolezal at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove, Iowa, later divorcing in 1995. They had two children, Rachel and Sarah and for the first 10 years of married life Kris was a stay-at-home mother. In 1978, Kris went to work as a Secretary in the President’s Office at the University of Iowa where she worked for three presidents and met lifelong mentors. In 1992, she began work at the Office of Statewide Clinical Education Program at the Carver College of Medicine as a Program Assistant and continued working there until her retirement. She enjoyed her career at the University and believed in its mission. She retired in 2012 after 33 years of service at the University of Iowa.
During her retirement, she enjoyed traveling to warmer climates to visit friends and spending time with her husband, daughters and five grandchildren. She loved being creative and especially enjoyed painting watercolor portraits of her family. As is the tradition in her family, she was an avid card player throughout her life, playing euchre, sets and runs, and multiple solitaire. She was especially fond of going to school performances to support her grandchildren and delighted in each and every one of their accomplishments.
On March 22, 2019, Kris married Frank James Grizel at the Johnson County Courthouse in Iowa City. Kris was a loving and generous wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and dear friend. She always cared for her family above all else, listened and supported their wants and dreams. She held their hands, stroked their hair, hugged and held them whenever they needed it. She lifted them up every time life knocked them down. She will be profoundly missed.
She is survived by her husband Frank, and two daughters, Rachel (Tim) Leist of Iowa City, Sarah (Tad) Gallagher of Iowa City and her five grandchildren: Jacob Leist, Alexa Leist, Katelyn Gallagher, Ellen Gallagher, and Emma Gallagher, all of Iowa City. In addition, she is survived by four siblings: Julia Jans, Iowa City; Paul (Becky) Kaefring, Iowa City; Jeffrey (Lisa) Kaefring, Solon; David (Patty) Kaefring, Oxford; brother-in-law Scott Hutchinson of Owatonna, MN; ex-husband Robert (Ann) Dolezal of Marion; fourteen nieces and nephews; close friend Kathryn Tartaglia and numerous extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Vera Kaefring, her sister Lisa Hutchinson, her brother-in-law Ronald Jans, and her niece Carrie Jans.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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