Louise A. Kienbaum, 85, Tomahawk and recently Rice Lake, died Friday Dec. 2, 2023 at Our House Assisted Living Rice Lake under St. Croix Hospice Care.
Louise was born Aug. 31, 1938 in Rib Falls, daughter of the late Dalles and Hazel (Kramm) Ristau. On Jan. 19, 1957 she married Gordon Kienbaum at the Methodist church in Rib Falls, Wis. He survives.
Louise was a homemaker and sold Avon in the ‘70s. She loved to garden, can vegetables and venison, snowmobile and fish in her earlier years. She served in the church auxiliary and attended bible study for many years with her dear friends in Merrill. She and Gordon traveled the states in their motorhome throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. She was a wonderful cook and baker and loved making everyone’s favorite dishes when they visited. She was spirited and mighty with a deep love and affection for her family.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Gordon Kienbaum, Tomahawk; children: Kevin Kienbaum, Merrill and Kirsten (Tom) King of Birchwood; grandchildren: Kari (Joe) Nitsch of Tomahawk, Kristopher (Jen) Kienbaum of Wausau, Kodiak King of Birchwood, and Adam (Kristina) King of Birchwood; great-grandchildren: Michaela Kienbaum, Hunter Nitsch, Karyssa Kienbaum and Ella King; siblings: Helen Brandt of Wausau, Judy Thomsen of Wausau, and Betty (Craig Green) Ristau of Oceanside, Calif.; sister-in-law Sherry Ristau and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by sister Joan Zastrow, brothers Rodney and Russell Ristau. Private family services will be held later in spring.