Millicent Ann Kisslinger

Millicent (Penny) Kisslinger—gifted singer, delighted traveler, legendary hostess, true friend, and loving wife, mother, and grandmother—died peacefully at home in Leawood, Kansas on July 20, 2014, surrounded by love. Her family and friends will always remember what one dear friend has called “her gentle and mirthful nature,” expressed in her vibrant blue eyes and through her laughter, music, gags, compassion, and genuine love of life.

Penny was born in Crookston, Minnesota, in 1924 to Nels Anton and Sarah Thorson (nee Rollefson), the fourth of five children in a family devoted to music, community, learning, church and a powerful work ethic. She graduated from Detroit Lakes High School, where she played clarinet in the marching band, and from the University of Minnesota, where she majored in home economics and joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

In the summer of 1947, Penny met Carl Kisslinger, the love of her life, at Camp Thunderbird in Bemidji, MN, where she was the dietitian, he the nature counselor. Marrying in 1948, the couple moved to St. Louis, where Carl completed his doctoral work and began his 25-year tenure at St. Louis University. They embraced life in St. Louis, raising five children and serving as active members of the community and university. With great tenacity, she triumphed over health challenges to create a loving home and pass on her love of music. In an era trending toward fast, processed foods, she served healthy, home-made “sit down” meals, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Her gracious dinner parties were legendary, much appreciated by a global community of scientists who frequented the family’s dinner table, often with just a few hours’ notice.

Her own overseas adventures began in 1966 when the family spent a year in Tokyo. Penny negotiated purchases and made friends with the “rice lady” and the sushi shop and soon was supplementing her trademark broccoli casserole and smoked brisket with sukiyaki and other Japanese delights. She taught English in the home and would strike up conversations on the street or streetcar, which often led to unexpected dinner guests. For many years, they would continue to travel, mixing Carl’s work with their shared love of new places, cultures and friendships worldwide.

In 1972, Carl joined the faculty of the University of Colorado as director of Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES ). , Carl and Penny moved to Boulder, with still at-home son Jerry, where they woke each day to the splendor of the foothills. Life in Boulder was rich and full with university events, mountain adventures, family visits, friends, and music. Penny sang with Sweet Adelines and Amor Artis. She and Carl would plan their summers around the Colorado Music Festival and savor each Takacs quartet concert. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in March, 2008 with friends and family.

Following Carl’s death in December, 2008, Penny moved to the Kansas City area, where she lived near her daughter Pam. Even in her last years, through the changes brought by advancing Alzheimer’s, she inspired and delighted caregivers, fellow residents, and visiting family with her humor and compassion.

Penny is survived by daughters Susan of Portsmouth, NH; Ellen (Mike Belanger) of Hudson, MA; Pamela of Kansas City, MO; son Jerry (Leslie Boden), of New York City, and six grandchildren: Emma Dweck, David Belanger, Ava Dweck, Sarah Smith, Rachel Belanger, Daniel Kisslinger and Aaron Kisslinger. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, and daughter Karen.

The family asks that any donations made in Penny’s memory be given to the Colorado Music Festival, www.comusic.org or Grace Hospice of Kansas City, through http://thefoundationforhospicecare.org/. Remembrances are invited on this memory page.