Flavia Marie (Ahle) Kirchner

In Loving Memory of

Flavia Marie Kirchner

On July 2, 2021, just 36 days short of reaching her 100th birthday, Flavia Marie Kirchner’s journey on this earth ended.  Although she did not achieve her goal of 100 years, she accomplished so much in her lifetime.  The quiet grace of a woman who made her home, her family, friends, and her church her life’s focus.  She was born in New Ulm, Minnesota on August 6, 1921, to John and Francis (Macho) Ahle.  She attended elementary school there and then moved with her family to Tracy, MN where she graduated high school in 1939.  Throughout her life she remained close to her classmates and attended every reunion she could just as she maintained close contact with her New Ulm cousins and gathered often with them.  One amazing accomplishment was moving to California with girlfriends to work in an airplane factory in WWII!  She was a Riveting Rosie!  She rarely talked about this remarkable war effort.  On October 10, 1946, she was united in marriage to Leland Russell Kirchner and began her life as a farmer’s wife on a farm near Avoca, MN.  Later they moved to a farm near Westbrook, MN and finally to a farm near Slayton, MN.  Flavia recently moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton where she had many friends and wonderful care.  Flavia always filled her home with her lovely hand-sewn fabrics and flowers.  She loved feeding people and having gatherings at her table -always covered with a lovely tablecloth and pretty dishes and flowers.  Just as she was always in a dress and with her pearl necklace and her hair fixed.   Flavia always knew how to look good.  The Church was a centerpiece of her life. Throughout her years in Westbrook, Flavia was a tireless worker at St. Anthony Catholic Church.  She continued her church service by preparing meals at St. Ann’s for the priest and special guests.  Flavia was a marvelous cook, baker, canner, and homemaker. She always enjoyed a good cup of coffee. She loved hearing about and catching up on what was going on in everyone’s lives. Her cookies and cakes, sauerkraut and dumplings, potato salad and pickles are a legacy her family cherish and whenever one of her recipes is used, her memory is honored. She enjoyed watching the Yankees, Twins, Timberwolves and the Wild. She accomplished a great deal in her 99 years and 11 months.  Her accomplishments?  Her perfectly prepared and served meals, her dill pickles, her fern peony, geraniums, and embroidered pillowcases.  Her laundry was always perfect and always pressed.   Of course, the good linen was preserved in the cedar chest along with the pretty paper plates, the funeral book of her beloved sister, Marcella, the good towels, her wedding veil.  A cedar chest full of her mementos of life.  Flavia and Lee raised two sons, Lee (Randi) Kirchner of Lake City, MN and Michael (Rita) Kirchner of Slayton.  Michael and Rita lived on the same farm and were constant companions to Flavia.

Flavia is survived by her sons and their wives, grandchildren John (Katy) Kirchner, Edina, MN; Robin (Brett) Zimmerman, Alexandria, MN; Tonia (Carl) Kvale, Alexandria, MN; Shari (Jason) Schreier, Currie, MN, Mitchell (Cortney) Kirchner, Tyler, MN, and fifteen great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings, John Ahle and Marcella Block and one granddaughter, Shannon Kirchner.

On Saturday, August 7, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. her funeral and celebration of life will be held at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton.  And Grandma Flavia will take one last ride in her 1982 cream colored Cadillac.  Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren.  From her saved treasures, her Bible and Rosary, and messages from her family will be placed in her vault.  She will always have them with her because she never wanted to be alone.  Safe journey home, Grandma Flavia.

Visitation will be on hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday, August 7, 2021.  The family prefers memorials to Hospice of Murray County or Lindenwood Assisted Living.

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