L. Kieffer,

PEA RIDGE —

71, of Pea Ridge, Ark., passed away Su n . , January 22. Mike was born Aug. 9, 1951, in Belleville, Kan., to John and Virginia ( Rizek) Kieffer. He graduated from Belleville High School in 1969. On January 22, 1972, Mike married Louise Heina, and to this union of 51 years two children were born: Nicholas and Kimberly.

Mike enlisted in the Air Force in 1971, and was stationed in California, Southeast Asia, Germany, Texas, and finally Arkansas. He retired from military service in 1991 after serving 20 years, and then worked for the US Marshals Service in Little Rock until 2017. Mike was active in the Boy Scouts as a youth and later as a leader. He was also a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Jacksonville, and participated in different church roles for over 36 years. Mike was especially proud to be a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served Council 11604 in Jacksonville as Grand Knight, Past Deputy Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator, and Arkansas State Deputy. He currently served as 4th Degree District Marshal of Arkansas. Camping, baking kolaches, visiting Kansas, caring for his dog, and making his granddaughters laugh were all things he enjoyed doing.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents; son, Nicholas; and sister, Janice Snyder.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Louise; daughter, Kim Kay ( Jesse) and their children Caroline and Lydia; brother, Greg Kieffer; sister, Cathy Runge; and sister Lori Arnold.

Mass of Christian Burial was held January 30, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Belleville, with Fr. Steven Heina officiating. Burial with Military Honors followed at St. Isidore Cemetery, Cuba, Kan.

Memorials are requested to Boy Scouts of America or Diocese of Little Rock Seminarian Fund, sent in care of Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 566, Belleville, Kan. 66935. www. tibbettsfischerfuneralhome. com