Leola M. Kirn of Golden Eagle died at 4:31 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018.
Leola was born on November 3, 1919 in Meppen, IL the daughter of Henry Kinder Jr. and Anna (Hagen) Kinder.
Leola graduated from Brussels Community High School in 1938.
Leola attended nursing school at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Granite City, IL graduating as an RN in 1941. She was employed as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, IL.
Leola enlisted in the US Army in June 1943 and became an Army Nurse serving with the 35th General Hospital of the 8th Army. She cared for wounded soldiers during WWII in 1944 and 1945 in the Philippines, New Guinea and Dutch East Indies, rising to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. She spoke often of her service in Leyte and Biak.
When Leola returned home to Golden Eagle after the war she married Floyd Kirn in 1948. She worked at Firmin Desloge and St. Anthony’s Hospitals in St. Louis and St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Charles. She was the assistant to the Postmaster at Golden Eagle Post Office when it was located at the old Crossroads. She was the school nurse at Brussels Community High School for many years.
She loved to grow, pick and pack apples with Floyd and together they traveled to all 50 states and Europe. Leola was an original contributor and supporter to the Women in Military National Memorial located at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC and her name is enshrined there as a WWII US Army Nurse.
She was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Church and American Legion Post 685 in Brussels, IL.
Leola is survived by her husband of 69 years, Floyd Kirn; son Jeffrey (Jean) Kirn, grandson Thomas Kirn, granddaughter, Nicole Kirn, former daughter-in-law, Mary Kay (Jim) Hughart, brothers and sisters-in-law Pat and Marvin Bruce, Darlene Logan, Ida Mae Kinder, Jack and JoAnn Kirn, and many nieces and nephews.
Leola was preceded in death by her parents, son Robert Kirn, two older brothers, Oliver (Joan) Kinder and William (Lee Etta) Kinder and one beloved little brother, Henry (Hank) T. (Ida Mae) Kinder, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm Friday, March 23, 2018 at Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Brussels.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brussels.
Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Brussels with full military rites.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Cemetery, or the Brussels American Legion Post 685.
Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.gresskallalschaaf
