Jennifer J. Kiesling

Jennifer J. Kiesling, 51, of Poplar Grove, passed away surrounded by her family on November 26, 2021. She was born in Rockford, IL on December 2, 1969 to Robert and Barbara (Thomas) Buckavekas. Jennifer graduated West High School in 1988. She married the love of her life, Rodney Kiesling on November 19, 1988 and together they raised two wonderful girls. She was an EAA member and volunteered her time at Festa Italiana and for the Lions Club. Jennifer fought her 5 year cancer battle with so much strength and determination. Her smile and laugh was so contagious! She was an inspiration to so many people and was a woman of many hats; hair stylist, pilot, realtor, auctioneer, business owner, but most importantly a loving wife, daughter, mother, grandmother and friend. Jennifer was the most dedicated mom. They would take family vacations every year as Jennifer loved to travel with her favorite places being the Bahamas and Vegas. Rodney and Jennifer built a family cabin in Conover, WI and made many wonderful memories up there. She enjoyed working, Jeepin, her sailboat, crafting, and flying airplanes. Jennifer was a big supporter of women owning their own business and would help anyone out anyway she could. She loved shopping and had great taste. Jennifer loved being a wife and a mom but her biggest blessing was being a grandma. She gave her grandkids her all and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them or for anyone. She lived an incredibly blessed life and was a blessing to everyone she came in contact with. Jennifer was beautiful inside and out and will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.

Jennifer is survived by her husband of 33 years, Rodney Kiesling; her daughters, Stephanie (Kevin) King and Tiffany (Karri) Turner; her grandchildren, Karson King, Barrett King, Maverick King, and Bailey Turner; her parents, Robert and Barbara Buckavekas; her brother, Jeffrey Buckavekas; and her niece, Valerie Zambrano. She is preceded in death by her grandparents; Mary and Stanley Thomas and Katherine and William Buckavekas; her sister Julia Zambrano; and her dog, Lucy.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to the staff at ProMedica Hospice and OSF Cancer Center for all of their compassion and care.

Memorial Visitation for Jennifer will take place on Monday, December 6, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel. 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108. Memorial Service will be on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, with a luncheon to follow. Cremation rights have been accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family to establish a scholarship in Jennifer’s name.