Saturday, September 4th, 2021
Linda Kitzmiller
Linda B. (Jones) Kitzmiller of Minster died peacefully at 11:55 PM on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at her home in Minster.
She was born on November 27, 1948, in Greenville, Mississippi, the daughter of Major (retired U.S. Army) B.C. Jones, Jr. and Jeanne (Crane) Jones. On July 22, 1977 she married the love of her life, Don Kitzmiller in Minster, Ohio and he survives her.
She is survived by her two wonderful sons: Andrew (Danielle) and Paul (Emma), all of Cincinnati, and her six grandchildren: Benjamin, Margaret, Charles, Philip, George, and Joseph. Her sister, Sandy (Ed) Stroyny also survives her in Mosinee, Wisconsin as well as three nephews: Scott, Brad, and Bryan Stroyny. In-laws Marge Kitzmiller and Dennis Kitzmiller, both of Minster, survive her as well.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her brother B. C. Jones, III, her brother-in-law Ken Kitzmiller and her sister-in-law Connie Kitzmiller.
Linda lived her first ten years traveling the world with her military family. She lived in Nurnberg, Germany and Chitose, Japan and attended six different schools in those ten years. After her father retired from the U.S. Army, they returned to Greenville, Mississippi where she attended junior high and high school.
She earned the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1970 and Master of Nursing in 1974 from the University of Mississippi. She was an assistant professor of Nursing at the University of Mississippi where she taught Maternal-Infant Nursing. She was tapped for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, national collegiate honor society and Sigma Theta Tau, national nursing honor society.
After first moving to Minster, her first lasting memory was the Blizzard of 1978. She was not sure she had made the right decision to move north … experiencing all that snow and wind.
Her first job in Ohio was to conduct the feasibility study for Edison State Community College to establish an associate degree nursing program. Her feasibility study was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents and ESCC's nursing program has maintained full accreditation and approval since its origin.
Choosing to be a stay at-home mom, she intermittently taught nursing classes at both ESCC and WSU-Lake campus. Linda served on the Auglaize County Board of Health for 30 years where she was President of that Board for many years. She was elected to the Auglaize County Educational Service Center and served 20 years on its Board. She also served for over 12 years on the Joint Township District Memorial Hospital Foundation Board where she and Don sponsored the beauty shop in the transitional care unit during a remodeling project. She served over 18 years on Minster's Zoning and Planning boards.
Linda was a member of St. Augustine Church for over 40 years where she held many volunteer positions. Her greatest joy was her 34 years of being a catechist in its religious education program, sharing the Catholic faith and God's Love with her students. She was surprised the first year she realized that she was now teaching 2nd generation students, having taught their parents years previously.
Linda was recognized for all her volunteer work and time by being named the 2017 "Citizen of the Year" by Minster's Civic Association.
She and Don traveled extensively over the United States and the world. When asked where her very favorite place to visit was, she always exclaimed that they were all special in different ways. But one of her favorite places was southern Bavaria in Germany.
For all her accomplishments, her greatest joy was spending time with her six grandchildren. She treasured every part, and every moment, of being their "Nana".
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM on Thursday September 9, 2021 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minster with Fr. Frankline Rayappa and Fr. Louie Schmit presiding.
Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster from 4:00 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 and from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM on Thursday September 9, 2021.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donation be made to the St. Augustine Religious Education Fund.
Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.
