24 Jun Erwin Kiemele
Posted at 13:48h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Erwin Kiemele, 88, of Peoria, AZ (formerly of Ashley, ND and Bismarck, ND), went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 19, 2024. He died in Peoria AZ from complications of chronic lung disease and congestive heart failure.
Erwin was born on September 21, 1935 on the family farm outside Linton, ND to Edward and Caroline (Weber) Kiemele. He was the eleventh of twelve children. He attended a country school in Linton, ND until he began a job as a driver for Linton Transfer. He enlisted in the Army and served during the Korean War from 1954-1956. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Linton ND, and on July 5, 1957 he married Yvonne Brown. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Minneapolis, MN where Erwin attended Dunwoody Baking School. Following graduation, they returned to Linton, ND then eventually relocated to Ashley, ND where Erwin owned and operated the Ashley Bakery for nearly 40 years. He was renowned for making German kuchen. He later moved to Fargo, ND, and worked for SunMart Bakery. After fully retiring in 2000, Erwin and Yvonne returned to Bismarck, ND but were snowbirds to Mesa, AZ for several years. In 2017, they moved to St. Marys, GA to be closer to family. In June 2023, they relocated to Peoria, AZ.
Erwin was an active member of the Ashley Baptist Church in Ashley, ND for several years, then later at Century Baptist Church in Bismarck, ND. He led several Bible studies and participated in several men’s ministries. He loved to share his faith with others, and led the Sunday chapel services at his care facility in Arizona for several months up until his health began to fail. Besides his deep Christian faith, he had a strong work ethic and did not like to be late for anything.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Yvonne, and children Lester (Deborah) Kiemele of Peoria AZ; Steven (Susan) Kiemele of Fargo, ND; Nancy (Daniel) Petron of St. Marys, GA; John (Marissa) Kiemele of Sarasota, FL; and Kathleen Kelm of St. Marys, GA; 10 grandchildren (Aaron Kiemele, Jordan Kiemele, Hannah Kyllo, Leah Berg, Emma Lyons, Rachel Wright, Joel Petron, Michael Petron, Austin Kelm, and Skyla Kelm); and 21 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters (Violet Walther, Bismarck, ND and Caroline Weishair, Plymouth, MN) and 2 brothers (Ray, Bismarck, ND and LeRoy, University Place, WA), and several nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Caroline Kiemele; 5 brothers (Emanuel, Edward Jr, Fred, Albert, and William) and 2 sisters (Anne Rocholl and Ruth Pudwill).
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at Bismarck Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. Pastor Kip Wright will be the officiant and Erwin’s grandchildren will be the pallbearers. A military service will follow the service on June 27 at 3 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND, which will be Erwin’s final resting place. Four words that sum up Erwin’s life: “Love God, serve others.”
Suggested memorial donations include Gideon’s International (gideons.org) or the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (ifcj.org). The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Senita Ridge Care Facility and Agave Hospice in Peoria, Arizona for their excellent care of Erwin over the past several months.
