- Date Of Birth: October 30, 1939
- Date Of Death: March 5, 2019
- State: Iowa
Deanna Jean Kuiper, 79, of Spirit Lake passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
Deanna was born on October 30, 1939, in Bloomfield, IA. Her parents were John and Lois Donnelly. She graduated from Davis County High School in Bloomfield. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music from Drake University in Des Moines. Deanna first taught music in High School in Walnut, IA for 4 years until moving to Spirit Lake where she taught music in the elementary system for 32 years. She was united in marriage to John Robert Kuiper on June 27, 1965. Aside from teaching music, Deanna played the organ almost all her life. She was the church organist for the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake for more than 50 years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women’s Church Circle, Bell Choir Director, and volunteered on countless other boards and committees for the church. She was also a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.
In Deanna’s free time she enjoyed tending to her flower garden, and never missed an opportunity to attend a music program at the Spirit Lake Community School. She was a big supporter of Spirit Lake sports and music programs where she enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband John Robert Kuiper of Spirit Lake; son Tracy (Ann) Kuiper of Spirit Lake; daughter Sheila (Bradley) Frey of Theresa, NY; son Craig (Patty) Kuiper of San Antonio, TX; 7 grandchildren, Jordan, Connor, Kristen, Bennett, Jenna, Jarod, and Keri; 3 great-grandchildren, Ava, Layna and Addison; brother John (Carolyn) Donnelly of Ankeny, IA; brother in law’s Richard (Virginia) Kuiper of Fairfax, IA and William (Karen) Kuiper of Catonsville, MD; 1 niece and 1 nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents.
