Earl Francis Kisling

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Sept. 30. 1924 - Jan. 16, 2014

HERCULES, California -- Earl Francis Kisling, 89, of Hercules, passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at Care Home Sweet Home in Hercules.

Earl was born Sept. 30, 1924, in Indianola, Nebraska, to Floyd and Vera (Fritsch) Kisling. He attended and graduated from Indianola High School. Following high school, he worked at the Hastings Ammunition Depot and Indianola Bureau of Reclamation, plus several part time jobs to put himself through college. He proudly graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a B.S. degree in education. Earl also earned continuing education work at San Francisco State College from 1956 to 1961.

Earl taught school in Imperial and Carroll, Nebraska, schools before relocating to California, where he continued his teaching career in Richmond and Caruthers. Of the various jobs Earl experienced, teaching was his preference. Earl was interested in continuing his education and also enjoyed traveling. He celebrated his 80th birthday with a cruise around the world. Traveling with fellow teachers on hostel trips was a high light of his life. Earl always added a spark to the Kisling family reunions with his quick wit and lively personality.

The last four years of Earl's life were spent at Care Home Sweet Home in Hercules where his caretaker, Wendy, treated him as she would have a beloved relative. Wendy made certain that he had his favorite foods and flavored coffee. Every morning at breakfast he would read his newspapers and share them with the other residents so they could all enjoy discussing the news of the day. His hunger for knowledge never wavered.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harvey and wife Jerry, Roy and wife, Patricia, and Clarence Kisling; one sister, Dorothy Peters and husband, Pete; brothers-in-law, Jim Brooks and Jack Brothers; nephew, Sean Kisling and great-nephew, Rob McConville.

Survivors include sisters, Mary Ann Brothers of Dix, Nebraska and LaVera Brooks of McCook, Nebraska; nieces, Sheree Forgue, Cindy McConville, Michelle Wood, Rebecca Kisling, Pamela Powell, Mary Pat Sulenta, and Julia Johnson; nephews, Shaun and Troy Brothers, Vince and Bruce Peters and the Kisling boys, Chris, Todd, Greg, Kelly, Jim, Rick and Tom; 25 great-nieces and nephews and 10 great-greats.

The family has honored Earl's wishes with cremation. Inurnment was held at Neptune Society of Northern California. Earl was held in highest esteem by his siblings and extended family. Memories of him will bring many happy smiles and hearty laughter. He was a special guy.