Gloria Jean Kiechel

A Memorial Mass celebrating the life of Gloria Jean “Gee” Kiechel, age 96, of Granville, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, at the Church of St. Edward the Confessor, 785 Newark Granville Road in Granville with Father Timothy Hayes officiating. The service will be followed by a reception and toast at the Paolacci home.

Gloria passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. She was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa to Dorothy and Cecil Hockmuth. After graduating from high school in 1945, she pursued a career in both radio and real estate and eventually ventured off to California. Gloria loved to travel. She loved adventure and left memories and connections wherever she went. She married Frederick Casey Kiechel later in life and they settled in Appleton, Wisconsin, where they planned to raise their twins. After Fred’s death, Gloria moved her young twins around the country, making homes in Florida and Missouri, before settling in Las Vegas in 1983. Gloria swore she’d never move back to “snow country,” but in 2005 she moved to Granville to be closer to her daughter. Affectionately referred to as “Grandma” by all, she quickly acclimated and made friends, often hosting a nightly happy hour.

Gloria made a lasting impression on everyone she met, from Hollywood celebrities to Major League Baseball teams; she was unforgettable. An avid golfer, Gloria also spent time volunteering at PGA events. She loved to name drop connections that she had made and proudly tell people that she walked miles and miles on golf courses across the country. She had a passion for art, classic movies, music, Iowa Hawkeyes football, and a deep appreciation and loyalty for the Republican Party. Her secret to a long life was spending any available moment surrounded by the people she loved, sharing stories, and enjoying her signature scotch & water (mostly scotch). Gloria was one-of-a-kind; she never asked permission and led her life with a fiery spirit. She will be remembered for her humor, her passion for life, her opinion and advice (warranted or not) and the immense love she had for her friends and family.

Gloria is survived by her twin children; daughter, Margaret Ellen (John) Paolacci, and son, John Eric (Laurel Katz) Kiechel; grandchildren, Katherine (Sam) Tumminello and Ruby Katz Kiechel; brother, Richard Hockmuth; stepson, Stephen (Julia) Kiechel; daughter-in-law, Vivian Kiechel; nieces and nephews, Libby (Paul) Connaghan, Dr. David (Kellie) Hockmuth, Molly (Stuart) Hierschbiel; and dear friends, Carrie Mumma and Gina Ehlers and other extended family.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick C. Kiechel; parents, Cecil and Dorothy Hockmuth; stepson, Fred Kiechel; sister-in-law, Mary Hockmuth, and beloved poodle, Gidget.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Gloria and her family.