Deborah “Debbie” Gail (Schoen) Kieser, age 72 of Lakeville, Minnesota, passed away May 26, 2022 surrounded by her family.

She was born on November 29, 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Harold and Helen (Sydloski) Schoen. Debbie attended Holy Trinity school in Winsted until her family relocated to Madelia, MN where she finished her senior year of high school. She graduated with the class of 1967. She then attended Mankato School of Business where she studied accounting and business management.

An introduction by mutual friends led to Debbie meeting the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Kieser. Their first date was to go see the film, “Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte” at the Winsted movie theater. After five years of dating, they were joined in marriage on February 15, 1969 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted.

Jerry was drafted to serve in the United States Army from 1969 – 1973. He was a construction manager both in the army and thereafter. The family has lived in nine different cities: Washington, D.C., Covington, VA, London, KY, El Paso, TX and Anchorage, AK –just to name a few. They finally made their forever home in Lakeville, MN where they have resided since 1987.

Debbie held various jobs including working at Sears, Abra Auto Body, and Donaldson Company. Her most recent and favorite job was working as the bookkeeper at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Burnsville, MN where she was proudly employed for 11 years. Debbie and Jerry have been members of Risen Savior since 1987, and were Marriage Encounter participants since 1980. Being part of the Risen Savior community brought much joy to Debbie and her family.

Debbie was known to be independent with a very caring and generous heart. She was a people person and loved to be sociable. She’d host her annual Christmas party for all her closest friends and relatives to enjoy. Debbie had a fondness for shopping, going to garage sales, and collecting antiques. Her happy place was out on Fairy Lake with a fishing pole in her hands catching all the bass she could. She was a true fisherwoman and could spend hours enjoying the sunshine and company out on the water. She was a talented bowler, and as often as she and her family moved, she still joined the local bowling leagues, where she was also the league secretary. Being the sociable person that she was, you could also find her playing cards at the Apple Valley and Lakeville Senior Centers.

No matter how busy her hobbies and activities kept her, she always managed to make time for her family. They were her priority and the best was yet to come when she became a mother and grandma. Her love for her husband, children, and grandchildren is unmatched – she made sure they all knew how much she loved them.

She is preceded in death by her grandson, Jacob Prince; parents, Harold and Helen Schoen and Harold’s second wife, Viola Schoen.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jerry; children, Cheryl (Jim) Prince, Matthew (Michelle) Kieser, and Chris (Laura) Kieser; grandchildren, James Prince, Lily Kieser, and Nicholas Kieser; siblings, Sherry (Bill) Goude, Joyce (Tom) Campbell, Dave (Karen) Schoen, and Mike (Debbie) Schoen; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 10, 2022 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM with a brief prayer service beginning at 7:30 PM at Chilson Funeral Home in Winsted, MN. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, MN. Inurnment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Winsted. A luncheon will follow at Holy Trinity.

A Celebration of Life will be at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Burnsville, MN on Thursday, June 23rd at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow the service.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Chilson Funeral Home of Winsted. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.chilsonfuneralhome.com