Frances Isabel Kistler

Frances Isabel (Brown) Kistler, age 90, of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed Thursday at Porter Hills Village, after battling the acute effects of metastatic colon cancer. She was born in Hastings, Michigan, and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Fran was a devout Christian woman treasured by family and friends as a loving wife, devoted mother, precious friend and venerable community service volunteer throughout her life. She met her future husband, Fred, while both were counselors at neighboring summer camps affiliated with the Methodist church. In 1953, she earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree with honors from Michigan State University, where she became a proud Kappa Delta sorority member. Fran married Fred on a 3-day weekend pass while he was in the army. She had a very brief career as a social worker before children came along. Raising their family in Grand Rapids, they enjoyed waterfront cottages and a home on Reeds Lake. They all loved sailing and boating. 

Fran and Fred were members of Trinity United Methodist church for over 55 years, and then joined Mayflower Congregational church. Fran made lifelong friends through activities with other Trinity Couples, and cherished fun times with her bridge club. She enjoyed family gatherings and warm winters in Florida, and especially relished annual New Years Eve jolly with dear friends. Since her initiation in 1978, Fran actively educated and supported the development of women around the world and in her community as a member, Treasurer and President of the Michigan Chapter CU of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood. 

Fran was preceded in death by her husband Fred, and her parents, Arthur and J. Isabel (Hailwood) Brown. Fran is survived by her sister Nancy Morrison, sons Donald (Lori) and David (Martha), daughter Laura (Dan Bialke), and eight grandchildren {Lynda (Rick) Schmich, Michelle, Sarah, Stephen, Andrew, and Mark Kistler, and Bradley and Beverly Bialke}. A memorial celebrating Fran’s wonderful life will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, October 11, at the Porter Hills Meeting House chapel located in the West Lobby of Porter Hills Village, 3600 East Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to P.E.O. International (Peace Scholarship Fund), Angels’ Place (Middlebury Home Endowment), or the charity of your choice.

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