Obituary of Rhoda Kaiser

A funeral service for Rhoda Kaiser, age 89, of Milford, will be held Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Burial will be at First Reformed Cemetery in Everly. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 7th from 4:00-6:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Rhoda Jeannette (Thiessen) Kaiser, the daughter of Albert and Clara (Fell) Thiessen was born on a farm north of Everly, Iowa on July 27, 1927. Her childhood years were spent north of Everly in Westport Township where she attended country schools. When she was in 6th grade, her family moved to a farm south of Everly. Following high school, she worked as a Dental Assistant until she met and married Dick (Richard) Kaiser of Milford. She was active in the community, serving in numerous capacities throughout the years. She and Dick were members of the Union Memorial Church. Rhoda was active in Circle and head of their "Harvest Home Supper" for years. She was a 4-H leader, a member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries, becoming the Department President of the American Legion Auxiliary of Iowa in 1988. She was active in the Dickinson County Republican party, served on the Milford Zoning Board and a volunteer at school. Rhoda enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, knitting, cooking, traveling, playing cards and games with family and friends. She also enjoyed horses and horseback riding, especially on the trails on the river land. Rhoda passed away at Spencer Municipal Hospital on December 4, 2016. She was preceded in death by her sons, Mathew and Paul; her husband, Dick (Richard) Kaiser; her parents; two sisters, Sara Goddard and Clarice Elbert; and twin brother, Dick (Richard) Thiessen. She is survived by her daughters, S. Vance Hjelm of Lake Park and Shelley Kaiser of Spirit Lake; son, Tom (Julie) Kaiser of Milford; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Cosimo and Fran Nassif; sister-in-law, Audrey (Kaiser) Thiessen; many friends and relatives.