Jennifer Holmes Johnson Kieltyka

Born March 10, 1946 passed away May 26, 2017  

Diagnosed with Colon Cancer Stage 4 in September 2015, Jennifer underwent surgery and chemotherapy.  In March 2017, Jennifer started hospice care.  A Celebration of Life will be held at The Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208 on Thursday, June 1 at 1:00 pm. 

Jennifer was born at St Luke’s hospital in Kansas City, Missouri where her father was an Internal Medicine Resident and her mother was a St Luke’s graduate nurse.  Her parents Dr. and Mrs. Edgar William Johnson Jr. (Amelia Josephine Holmes) were Charter Members of Village Church and built their first home in Prairie Village, Kansas in the middle of the wheat fields.   As a child Jennifer attended church with her family and continued as an adult taking her children and grandchildren to Village.  Included in her Village participation were teaching TWO YEAR OLDs, being a Shepherd Deacon, a member of Presbyterian Women Circle ONE, and a member of Presbyterian Women.  She was honored with a Lifetime Membership to Presbyterian Women, a much cherished award.

In 1967 Jennifer married Joseph J. Kieltyka Jr. and although they divorced ten years later, they maintained a friendship for their amazing daughters.  A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Nursing Class of 1968, Jennifer’s   nursing career extended for almost forty-nine years.  Although varied and having worked in several hospitals, her career included critical care nursing for twenty-two years as well as being a member of the KUMC Movement Disorder Surgery team pioneering Deep Brain Stimulation.  In 2005, after earning a Master’s of Science (Nursing), she completed her Adult Nurse Practitioner certificate and finished out her nursing career as an Adult Nurse Practitioner at a clinic for the uninsured and also as a nurse practitioner for  maximum security male prisoners—an amazing opportunity.

Jennifer is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Edgar William Johnson III (BJ), and Stella Sophia Kieltyka Powell.  Surviving beautiful daughters:  Stephanie Sophia Kieltyka Mohr   (Jason and children Hailey, Joseph, Michael), Jennifer Anne Kieltyka (Chris Powell and child Katrina Claire Kieltyka Powell), Lara Katrina Kieltyka Riker (Chris Darrow and children Jimmy and Chelsea), Amelia Jo Kieltyka Ferguson (Todd and children Jack and Sawyer).  Surviving siblings:  Phoebe Johnson  Grindal  (“Doc” Grindal) of Topeka, Kansas, and James Sydney Johnson III (Patti) of Overland Park, Kansas, and BJ’s wife Patty Johnson of Lenexa, Kansas.

At the time of her cancer diagnosis, Jennifer described the help from her family and friends as a SWOOPING UP of care and love which continued throughout her illness.  Thank you to everyone!

If you would like to make a donation in her memory, Jennifer enjoyed the Heartland Presbyterian Center in Parkville, Missouri   (grandparents’ camp) 16965 NW Highway 45 KC MO 64152.  Also please consider a donation to the Duchesne Clinic (for the uninsured)  636 Tauromee, KCK 66101.  Also consider “visiting the prisoners”.    

Thank you to Kansas City Hospice for their excellent care.