Marianna N. Kiesel

Born March 10, 1954 in Midwest City, Oklahoma to Air Force Col. Howard D. Rant and wife Marie, she and her family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1954-55, then to Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan from 1957 to 1960.

Returning to the USA, the family lived in North Springfield, Virginia until 1965, before finally moving back to San Antonio. She graduated from Lee High School in 1972 where she met her future husband Mike.

Marianna was a wonderful homemaker and loved to stay in her family's condo in Port Aransas where she enjoyed fishing and beach combing. She spent many happy hours cooking, gardening and sewing as well as participating in various activities at Concordia Lutheran Church with her children.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia E. Rant; parents, Howard Donald and Marie Pickens Rant; and father-in-law, John M. Kiesel. Marianna is survived by her husband, Mike Kiesel; son, Jeremy Kiesel; daughter, Jennifer Kiesel; brother Howard Donald Rant, Jr. and wife, Becky; brother, James Edward Rant; Cousin, Deanna Pickens McCollum; niece, Amy Miller and husband Mike and children; nephews, Josh and Kyle Self, Thomas Hildebrand, Taylor Castillo; mother-in-law, Diane S. Kiesel; sisters-in-law, Linda Self and husband Rick, Stephanie Castillo and husband Juan; and of course her beloved dog, Ophelia.

She brightened and enriched many lives with her unfailing good nature and generosity and will be greatly missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave. Ste. 200, Manhattan Beach, California 90266.