Our beloved Debbie, 74, passed into peace on November 30, 2024, in Palo Alto, Calif. Debbie Kiehne was born on September 13, 1950, in Preston, Minn., and resided in Saratoga, Calif., until her passing. Debbie was curious, loving, giving, and filled with faith.
Debbie grew up on a dairy farm in Chatfield, Minn., with her family and attended Chatfield High School. She got her nursing education at the College of St. Teresa in Rochester, Minn., alongside her friends Mary and Kathy, and sister Mary Lou. Even after Debbie obtained her MS in Nursing from UC San Francisco, she continued to work bedside at El Camino Hospital Pediatrics and Labor and Delivery. Debbie is remembered as a caring nurse who embodied grace under pressure and connected deeply with her patients.
Debbie met her husband Ivan at El Camino Hospital, where the two enjoyed bowling outings and ski trips with their colleagues. They struck up a romance and were married in 1980. Debbie, Ivan and their daughter Kate enjoyed many family traditions together: trips to Tahoe, welcoming many dogs and cats into the home, sharing in the holiday spirit from Thanksgiving through Christmas, enjoying fine food and wine, expression of creativity through art – including quilting, sewing, 4-H and more.
In retirement, Debbie loved gardening roses and became a voracious reader of romance, historical fiction and non-fiction, and thrillers. She and her family shared many special dinners together in town (Hero Ranch, Wine Cellar, and Steamer’s were her favorites) and she loved taking a spa day with her daughter Kate. Debbie spent time staying connected with her loved ones, from lunches with her girlfriends to visiting her siblings who reside in California and Minnesota.
Debbie is survived by her husband Ivan, daughter Kate (Jordan), her sisters Mary Lou (Bob) and Becky (Larry), her brothers Bob (Ruth) and Jim (Kari), a loving extended family and many friends.
Dianne Brummond says
Debbie was a kind, loving and caring lady, my friend for years at Chatfield, MN schools. After high schoo, l I went to Winona State College for math and she to St Teresa’s college for nursing.. Adulthood took us in very different directions–me to marry an Army man and live in Joliet IL. She moved to California, met Ivan and married. They have a great daughter, Kate, shared a loving home with each other, animals, friends and faith. Debbie I wish we had stayed closer in touch, but may the Lord put his loving arms around you –I will see you again some day. Dianne (Bicknese) Brummond, Bloomington, MN