Obituary of Helen Kiefer

Helen Dunham Wright Kiefer, originally from Clinton, NJ, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2010, at the Willamette View Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon. She was 98 years old. Born on February 27, 1911, Helen was the daughter of Walter D. and Gertrude Dunham Wright of Clinton, NJ. She graduated from Clinton High School, Class of 1928. After graduation, Helen worked as the secretary at her father's insurance agency, Shive & Wright, which later became Shive, Wright & Exton in Clinton. In 1933, she married Clinton attorney E. Herbert (Bud) Kiefer of the law firm Gebhardt and Gebhardt, which later became Gebhardt and Kiefer. While her two sons, Ralph (born in 1934) and Bruce (born in 1938), were young, she worked part-time. In 1946, Helen became the Secretary for Clinton High School and Clinton Elementary School. In 1954, Helen took on additional duties as Secretary of the Board of Education. She retired in November 1974 to have more time for worldwide travel with her husband, Bud. Helen was active in her church, the Clinton Presbyterian Church, and for many years was volunteer secretary for the Hunterdon County Red Cross. Helen was President of the Clinton Woman's Club from 1947 to 1949 and again in 1983-84. Helen and Bud moved to the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, in September 1987. "From the Garden State to the Garden Isle," as Helen liked to say. Bud died 7 months later, in April 1988. Helen chose to stay in Hawaii, and lived there in her own home for 14 years. She described her time in Hawaii as "enjoying the easy life of swimming in the ocean and enjoying all the beauty that Hawaii has to offer." In 2001, she moved to an assisted living facility in Portland, Oregon, near the home of her son Ralph and his wife, Lois. Helen was pre-deceased by her husband, Bud, in 1988, and her son, Bruce, in 2008. She is survived by her brother Douglas Wright and his wife Jane of West Brandywine, PA, and her son Ralph Kiefer and his wife Lois of Wilsonville, OR. Helen is also survived by granddaughter Hope Kiefer and her husband Karl Hailman and their three children (Forrest, Delight, and Griffin), granddaughter Joy Kiefer and her daughter Emily, grandson Walter Kiefer, granddaughter Virginia Kiefer, step-granddaughter Lynn Peterson and her husband Mark, and step-granddaughter Jennifer Williams and her husband David and their three children (Jake, Katherine, and Sarah). Helen was buried on January 7, 2010, in the Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, NJ. There will be a Memorial Service at the Clinton Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 12:00 pm. Family & Friends are invited to attend a "Gathering" from 11:30 am to the time of the Service. Following the Service, Everyone is invited to join the family for refresments also at the Church.