Deborah Sue Kieler Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Deborah Sue Kieler was born July 9, 1960 in Des Moines, Iowa the daughter of Michael L. and Betty M. (Niswender) Kieler. Deb was raised in the Swan area and graduated from Pleasantville High School with the Class of 1978. During school, she was active in basketball, track, and showed horses 4H. Deb’s colt she raised and trained from birth, won first place at the county fair her senior year. She then attended U.N.I. earning Bachelor’s degree in education in 1982. She eventually earned her Master’s Degree from Drake University. Deb started the first Special Ed classroom in Pleasantville in the Memorial Hall building. Eventually the classroom was integrated into the Pleasantville campus. She spent 22 years as an educator in the Pleasantville School System before accepting a job with the Heartland A.E.A. Deb was instrumental in shaping the Special Ed program for the Heartland A.E.A. and mentored many student teachers through the years, including her niece. She recently retired from the Heartland A.E.A. office in Indianola, due to health concerns. In May of 2007 Deb was united in marriage to Jeremiah Patton. She was very close with all her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Deb was also an animal lover, and she especially enjoyed her cats and her friend Max. Deb passed away on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the Kavanagh House, in Des Moines, at the age of 59 years. She passed peacefully in her sleep with Jeremiah by her side. She was preceded in death by her father, Mike. Those left to honor Deb’s memory include her husband, Jeremiah Patton; mother, Betty Kieler; sister, Susan (Shawn) Matthews; nephew, T.J. Matthews; niece, Stacey (Justin) Trevillyan and many aunts, uncles, cousin, friends and colleagues. A Celebration of Deb’s Life will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Memorial Hall, in Pleasantville, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Marion County Special Olympics (P.O. Box 115 – Pleasantville, IA 50225) or to Autism Speaks.

Deborah Sue Kieler

July 9, 1960 - December 16, 2019