Joy "Gaga" Kirschenmann

June 10, 1943 - March 13, 2018

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Loyal Friend.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road for Joy Louise Kirschenmann, 74, who died peacefully at home in Bakersfield March 13 surrounded by her family and loved ones. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 16 at noon at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 900 H Street.

Joy was one of three children born to Stanley and Virginia Powers in Bakersfield. She attended Bakersfield High School where she was Varsity Yell Leader. She attended the University of Arizona where she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority.

Joy was beautiful inside and out. She was a sought-after fashion model by Brock’s Department Store and the Bakersfield Country Club. After college she married her high school sweetheart Arnold E. Kirschenmann. Their union was blessed with three children and Joy devoted her life to her husband and supporting his business, King Pack Farms and his many golf pursuits, as well as raising their family in a Christian home.

Joy was active in Kern County Cotton Wives, was a gracious hostess and exceedingly generous with her resources and time. Hers was a treasured gift of friendship to many. Her distinct ‘Hello’ became her signature telephone greeting. It wasn’t unusual for Joy to spend hours on the landline telephone talking with friends late into the night.

Affectionately dubbed “Gaga”, Joy delighted in spending time with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Before her husband’s death in 2001 she and Arnold traveled the world together, visiting far away lands in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong. Many family memories were also made on frequent trips to the family beach house in Morro Bay and Mammoth Lakes.

In recent years, as Joy’s health battles worsened, her faith deepened as she grew closer to God. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, her brothers Lawton and Norvan Powers, her sister-in-law Aloma Powers, and her grandson Brock Bellue.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Kellie Roland, her son Arnie S. Kirschenmann and daughter Courtney Tobias and her husband Justin. Joy is also survived by grandchildren Steven and Reagan Roland, Gunner, Kennedy and Macy Kirschenmann, Daniel, Andrew and Madeline Tobias. She is also survived by great grandchildren Kash and Khloe Kirschenmann.

Pallbearers are Gunner Kirschenmann, Steven Roland, Andrew, Daniel and Justin Tobias and William Wonderly. In lieu of flowers, Joy’s memory may be honored with a donation to the Garces Memorial High School Football Program - attention Tonya Abbott, Garces Memorial High School, 2800 Loma Linda Drive, Bakersfield, CA, 93305.

Joy loved her family and her life and lived it well, with charm and humor. Our lives are all the richer because of her.