Jean Newburger Hiersteiner of Prairie Village, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Feb. 10 at the age of 103.
Jean and her twin sister, Joan, were born in St. Louis, Missouri, on Oct. 31, 1920, to Berthold and Dorothy Newburger. The twins lived their early lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Berthold was the manager of the Newman’s department store. Given the family business, the twins were always immaculately attired in identical outfits.
Jean attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, graduating with a degree in history in 1943. After graduation, she moved to New York City, where she worked and volunteered at USO facilities. In 1944, she married Walter Hiersteiner of Des Moines, Iowa. After World War II, they relocated to Kansas City, where Walt worked briefly for the Stinson Mag law firm before taking a job with the Tension Envelope Corporation.
Jean and Walt had four children, Dick (Erica) of Boston, Massachusetts; Mary (David) of Concord, New Hampshire; Joe (Cathy) of Kansas City; and Dottie (Peter, deceased 2015) of Boulder, Colorado. Jean was a fantastic mother, unconditionally loving and nurturing the brood. She became the quintessential grandmother to nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren who lovingly called her Granny.
Jean was an avid gardener and bird lover. Up to her final illness, she enjoyed tending her community garden plot or gazing at the orchids and hoyas that brightened her house and the variety of birds that flocked to her feeders.
She was a fabulous and creative cook with a taste for unique vegetables (especially okra and cardone), and she enjoyed trying new recipes, most of which were very successful. The few which weren’t remain part of family lore.
During later years, she could often be found reading thick biographies in her velvet high back chair, at the kitchen table reading the New York Times, composing letters in elegant cursive to her family, or writing humorous poetry for a family birthday or anniversary. She was an active member of book clubs and discussion groups for over 40 years.
Jean was an adventurer. She loved to travel, camp, canoe, raft and hike well into her later years. Among her many expeditions, she floated the Colorado River in Arizona, the Tatshenshini in Alaska, the Green in Utah, and went birding in the Amazon.
She was also an early environmentalist and contributed enthusiastically to organizations that protected natural resources, as well as civil rights and women’s rights. She was a committed volunteer, having served Menorah Medical Center; Truman Medical Center; Reach Out and Read; The League of Women Voters; the Tallgrass Prairie Foundation; Planned Parenthood and the Loose Park Library. Jean and Walt were founding members of The New Reform Temple and established the Hiersteiner Child Development Center at Johnson County Community College.
Jean and Walt were married for 65 years until his death in 2009. She is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by her best friends, first cousins Bert Berkley of Kansas City and Carol Hillman of New Salem, Massachusetts.
Jean was an extremely loyal and beloved friend to many, with her sharp mind and great sense of humor. She will be sorely missed and joyfully remembered.
A memorial service will be held on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. at The New Reform Temple (7100 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64114). The family suggests contributions to the Hiersteiner Child Development Center at Johnson County Community College (12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66210) or Kansas City Hospice House (12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145).
