Obituary: Leann Mary Kiehnau

Dec. 2, 1941 – Oct. 21, 2019

Leann Mary Kiehnau, 77, of the Town of Egg Harbor died at Sturgeon Bay Health Services.

She was born in Sturgeon Bay, the daughter of Andrew “Bert” Englebert Carmody and Mildred Mary (Fassbender) Carmody. Leann attended Sunny Point School in the Town of Egg Harbor and grew up attending St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay. Upon her graduation from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1959, she went to work for Old Line Life Insurance Company in Milwaukee.

She was united in marriage to Paul William Kiehnau on Sept. 11, 1965, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Valmy. Leann was employed with Sturgeon Bay Savings and Loan. She served as the town clerk and then treasurer for the Town of Egg Harbor for more than 10 years. Leann’s primary employment was with Door County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) in Sturgeon Bay, where she worked in admitting, patient accounting and medical records for 23 years. She studied accounting at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College in Sturgeon Bay while working at DCMH. She retired from DCMH in 2007.

Leann and Paul were blessed with more than 54 years of marriage. Together, they ran the Kiehnau family dairy farm on County Road G in the Town of Egg Harbor starting in October of 1965, following Paul’s father, Allen Sr., who purchased the farm in 1936.

Leann was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Parish in Egg Harbor (now Stella Maris Parish). She liked country music and square dancing with Paul. Leann enjoyed singing with the Sweet Adelines female vocal ensemble in the 1980s and with the Chamber Singers in the 1990s. She was also a member of the Christ Child Society of Door County and a proud Red Hatter (Red Hat Society).

Leann loved traveling and seeing the world, visiting Portugal, Spain, France, Austria and Germany, among numerous other places, and going on cruises in the Carribean. With her Irish heritage, she enjoyed taking three trips to Ireland. Leann even made a visit to the Holy Land just a few years ago.

She also liked bowling in leagues and had a love of horses. Above all, Leann loved her family. She had a “lead foot” that offered many exhilarating rides that left you “feeling alive” or just “thankful to be alive.” Leann will be remembered for being a confident, spunky and outspoken woman who was “always the life of the party.”

She will be missed by her husband, Paul; four children, Jeffrey (Monica) Kiehnau of Sturgeon Bay, Tonia Lewaren of Green Bay, Gary Kiehnau of the Town of Egg Harbor, and Greg Kiehnau of Ephraim; four grandchildren who were her pride and joy, Heather Kiehnau and Monica Crewe and Jack and Jenna Lewaren; two great-grandchildren, Kianna and Kinley; siblings-in-law, Gerald Kiehnau of Sturgeon Bay, Judy (Jerome “Jerry”) Cote of the Town of Jacksonport, and Ellen Kiehnau of the Town of Egg Harbor; other relatives; special friends, Janet Conlon, Patty Cigler, Sue Sellers, and Becky Mathison (and her children, Scott and  Emma); and other dear friends.

Leann was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dr. Raymond Carmody Sr.; siblings-in-law, Mary Kiehnau and Allen Kiehnau Jr.; and other relatives and friends.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 am, at Stella Maris Parish in Egg Harbor, with Fr. Thomas Farrell as celebrant. Leann will be laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 25, 4-7 pm, at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay, with the rosary to be prayed at 3:40 pm and a parish wake service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue at Stella Maris Parish in Egg Harbor Oct. 26, 9:30-10:45 am.

Memorials may be given in her memory to the Stella Maris Parish Endowment Fund, DOOR CANcer or the Sunshine House.

“Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who cared for Leann.”

Expressions of sympathy, memories and photos of Leann can be shared through her tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.