H. Jene Kirchhoff, the son of Herman and Anna (Pries) Kirchhoff, was born December 15, 1926, on a farm near Tripoli, in Bremer County, Iowa. He was baptized June 19, 1927 and confirmed March 17, 1940 at St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Tripoli. He graduated from Tripoli High School in 1943. Jene served as an aviation ordnance man third class with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was a turret gunner in a torpedo bomber. Jene was united in marriage with Florine Redies on April 17, 1949 at St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Tripoli.
Jene worked at Panzer Produce in Tripoli and Rath Packing in Waterloo, before working for John Deere for twelve years. He then worked as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service from July of 1960 until March of 1988. After his postal route was done for the day, Jene drove a school bus for the Tripoli School District.
Jene’s death occurred Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, after a lengthy illness. He was eighty-four years old. Jene was a lifelong member of Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli; the Brandenburg-Krueger Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 4013 in Tripoli; the American Legion; the Disabled American Veterans; the National Association of Federal Retired Employees; the Rural Letter Carriers Association; and the Wapsie Sportsmen Club in Tripoli. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, trapping, and had also been active in the Boy Scouts.
Jene is survived by his wife, Florine, of Tripoli; two sons, Michael (Marsie) Kirchhoff of Atlanta, Georgia; and Brent (Diane) Kirchhoff of Waterloo; five grandchildren, Dan, Amanda, Amber, Kyle, and Jordan Kirchhoff; one great grandson, Gage Kirchhoff; and several nieces and nephews.
Jene was preceded in death by one son, Kevin; his parents; two brothers, LaVerne and Earl Kirchhoff; and three sisters, Oretta Fenelon; Florence Block; and Ruth Korte.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 2, 2011, at Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli, with Rev. Mike Campbell officiating. Internment will be held at Faith United Church of Christ Cemetery in Tripoli. Brandenburg-Krueger V.F.W. Post # 4013 will be handling the military rites. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 1, 2011, at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be made to Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli.
