Annette Louise (Kuehnast) Kiehne, 84, of Harmony, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
On October 25, 1941, Floyd and Maxine Kuehnast welcomed their first child, Annette, in Renwick, Iowa. When she was a teenager, her parents moved the family farm to Lanesboro, Minnesota. Floyd milked the cows in Iowa in the morning and in Minnesota in the evening.
Annette attended a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Lanesboro High School in 1960 and went on to become a Registered Nurse (RN) at the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing, graduating in 1963. She enjoyed yearly reunions with her nursing classmates.
On November 9, 1963, Annette married Richard Kiehne and moved to a dairy farm north of Harmony, Minnesota. Together they raised four children, Timothy, Paul, Heather, and Alicia. All the while, Annette worked nights at Tweeten Memorial Hospital in Spring Grove. She was active in her children’s activities, from church, to 4-H, to sports.
In 1989, Annette and Richard moved to a hobby farm east of Austin, Minnesota. Annette continued to work as an RN at St. Mark’s assisted living and memory care home until she retired.
During her retirement, Annette used her kitchen skills as she began to sell baked goods and canning at local farmers’ markets. She would often have multiple ovens going as she baked cookies, bars, cakes and breads for all to enjoy.
In 2007, Annette and Richard moved back to Harmony to enjoy a working retirement after building the home of their dreams.
Annette loved music, especially playing piano and organ. Beginning in her junior year of high school and continuing into her 80s, Annette played organ at many churches in southeast Minnesota. She spent time with her Bible study group, serving as Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) vice-president and president.
Annette won many ribbons at the Fillmore County Fair in floral arranging, gardening and canning. In retirement, Annette and Richard bought a camper and had many adventures visiting the natural wonders of God’s world and traveling to visit cousins in Iowa.
Annette was of deep faith in the Lord. She is preceded in death by her parents Maxine and Floyd Kuehnast, brother F. Donavon (Lois) Kuehnast, and grandson Charlie Kiehne.
Annette is survived by her husband Richard, children Timothy (Julie) Kiehne, Paul (Terese) Kiehne, Heather Kiehne, and Alicia (Andrew) Johnson; sisters Linda (Jim) Iverson and Julie (Dale) Magee, and brother Doug (Donna) Kuehnast. She was lovingly known as Oma to her surviving grandchildren: Megan (Mac) Nelson, Liam Kiehne, Matthew Kiehne, Jack Kiehne, Gray Johnson, and Finn Johnson; and great-granddaughter Adelyn Nelson.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1200 13th Ave. NW, Austin MN 55912. Visitation at the church will be held one hour prior starting at 10 a.m. A light lunch will be served after the service. A private graveside ceremony will follow.
A gathering to honor Annette’s life and legacy will be held at The Old Legion Hall in Harmony (35 1st Ave NW) on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Annette loved floral prints and disliked the color black. All are invited to wear bright colors to the funeral and Harmony gathering.
Memorials are preferred to Big Springs Cemetery in Harmony, Minnesota or The Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota: www.commonwealtheatre.org.
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