Jonathan Michael Kiser

JONATHAN MICHAEL KISER

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Jonathan Michael Kiser, 58, passed away peacefully at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, after an extended illness.

Jon was born September 9, 1965, in Muscatine, Iowa, the third child of Ronald R. and Patrica A. (Maher) Kiser. He attended Hayes Catholic Elementary School; graduated from Muscatine High School in 1984; and began his college education at Muscatine Community College, eventually earning his BA degree from St. Ambrose University.

Throughout his life, Jon experienced frequent health challenges, primarily related to chronic renal failure which was diagnosed when he was three years old. Despite his health issues, his indomitable spirit, resiliency, sense of humor, faith and unwavering joy allowed him to live a long and active life!

Jon received a kidney transplant on Christmas Day, 1979. Due to complications, another transplant was performed in December 1983. The second transplant was successful, and Jon would eventually become one of the longest-lived kidney transplant recipients in the United States.

In 2009, Jon met the love of his life, Julie Geltz. They would enjoy a wonderful partnership over the ensuing years, sharing their mutual interests in family and church activities, gardening, farmer’s markets, brew pubs, baking cookies, and their two Boston Terriers, Blarney and Steiff.

Jon enjoyed a lifelong interest in airplanes, particularly WWII fighter planes. He was widely regarded as an expert on antique marbles and accumulated a large collection.

An enthusiastic participant in the Donate Life Transplant Games, Jon enjoyed bowling, darts and socializing with fellow organ transplant recipients.

Jon is survived by his lifelong partner, Julie Geltz, Clinton, IA; his father, Ronald R. Kiser, Muscatine, IA; a sister, Elizabeth Shapiro and her husband, Michael, Skokie, IL; brothers, Christopher and his wife, Cheri, South Lake Tahoe, CA; Andrew, Ft. Collins, CO; nephews, Colin Kiser, Denver, CO; Ben Shapiro and his fiancé, Rita Ismayl, Skokie, Il; and niece, Amy Rose Shapiro, of Ithaca, NY; an aunt, Kathleen Casini of Muscatine, IA and cousins, Susan Casini, Muscatine, IA and Jay Casini, Des Moines, IA.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Patricia A. Kiser, in 1998.

A Celebration of Life is planned for a future date. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jon’s memory to the Iowa Donor Network (www.iowadonornetwork.org); and consider saving a life by registering to become an organ donor.

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