I’m sharing the news of my Mother, Alberta (Birdie) Kisling’s death. Her memorial will be at Bear Creek (Quaker) Meeting near Earlham, Iowa, on Sept 24th at 11:00 am. Since many who might want to attend might not be familiar with the Bear Creek meetinghouse, I’m including a map and photos of it.
Alberta Kisling, passed away at the Brookdale Middleton Stonefield memory facility in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 12, 2023. Her children Randy, Lisa, and Jeff were with her. Her son, Jon, was not able to arrive in time because of the sudden change in her condition.
She was born in Whittier, Iowa, on May 7, 1931, to Albert and Lorene Standing. Mom’s brother Wilden is no longer living. Her brother, Ellis, lives and farms in the Bear Creek, Iowa, community.
Her husband and life partner, Burton Kisling, died in 2018.
We were continually amazed at how many things they were involved with, including various roles in Quaker communities and organizations both locally and nationally. And the depth of their involvement together as true partners.
Their journey began with farming in Iowa and continued as Dad steadily moved up through the Farm Service organization, eventually being the manager for the entire state of Iowa. Most of those promotions meant moving from place to place. They always became actively involved in each new community. Building deep friendships in each of them. Dad would usually be involved in things like the Chamber of Commerce, and Mom would be involved in social activities, sometimes acting in plays.
We were so blessed when every summer they would take us camping in various national parks, though everyone’s favorite was Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Mom, her parents, and her children all attended Scattergood Friends School, a Quaker boarding high school. She served on the Scattergood School Committee for over twenty years.
They were both very involved in the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). As a result of lobbying for peace and justice legislation, they were on a first-name basis with Iowa’s US Congressional delegation.
She spent years as a very successful real estate agent, winning the Million-dollar award for home sales multiple times.
She was an exceptional hostess, and she and Dad delighted in organizing zany games and dressing up. At an FCNL Annual Meeting, Joe Volk said he heard a rumor that they were going on tour as Phyllis Diller and Fang.
Mom was a painter, a prolific writer, and a collector of stories about her family, and all the things she and Dad did throughout their lives. Sad though it is, we are comforted by memories of her and Dad as wonderful parents. As we sort through old photos and letters, we are delighted to discover many things we hadn’t known.
It is a priceless gift that Mom wrote much of her life story, which can be found here: The Story Now Begins
Memorial plans
You are invited to attend in person the Bear Creek Meeting just north of Earlham, Iowa.
Sunday 24th, 10:00 am sharing about Mom followed by a memorial service at 11:00.
Map to Bear Creek
Earlham, Iowa, interchange on Interstate 80.
I was at the Bear Creek meetinghouse recently for the first time in a long time. At first because of COVID precautions, but then Mom wasn’t up to traveling for an hour to get there from Indianola.
Among the changes was the candle sculpture made of the stump of a tree that was removed. You might notice the sheet at the front of the meetinghouse, covering the television we use for Zoom meetings. The photo of the barns is at the Grade A Gardens just south of the meetinghouse.
The playground equipment was donated to the meeting in memory of my Dad in 2018.
Quakers and Mutual Aid 
I am sorry for her survivor’s loss. I remember her well. She was a fun and energetic woman who I very much liked. My thoughts are with you all for peace in yourselves.
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Thank you John
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