Harold (Hal) Charles Kieschnick, 74, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died on January 12, 2009 at his home, surrounded by his family. Hal was born in Walburg, Texas on May 18, 1934, to Oscar and Lina (Doering) Kieschnick. He attended Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, Texas, and received a Master of Education Degree from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois. Hal married Henrietta (Hank; Schmidt) Kieschnick on June 29, 1958 in Jefferson City, Missouri.
During their teaching careers, Hal and Hank served as Christian educators at Lutheran elementary schools around the country. Hal was the principal of Lutheran schools in New Orleans, Hinsdale, Ill., and Houston, Texas. In 1976 he was called to direct the "Teaching Assistance Project", where he served more than a dozen Lutheran elementary schools in under-served communities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He then served as Executive Secretary for Parish Services for the Southern District, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod from 1982-1999. In this position he assisted schools, organized Youth events, and was a mentor to uncounted pastors and teachers in the south and around the country. In retirement Hal served as interim Executive Secretary for Mission Services from 2000-2001. Throughout his career Hal was an advocate for under-served and marginalized communities, seeking to raise educational and spiritual expectations with the love of Jesus.
Mr. Kieschnick was an upbeat, gracious man who treated everyone he met with sincere respect. He liked to laugh and was known for his signature greeting of "keep smilin'!" in letters and phone conversations.
Hal is survived by his wife of 50 years, Hank (Schmidt) Kieschnick of Baton Rouge. He has three grown children Kathy (Johnson), with her husband Jon Schwartz of Lake Worth, FL., Kevin and his wife Christie (Orth) Kieschnick of New Orleans, and Kurt and his wife Cherri (Graff) Kieschnick of Baton Rouge. He dearly loved all of his 9 grandchildren, Austin (22) and Jacob (18) Johnson, Sophie (6) and Brennan (4) Schwartz, Layne (11) and Renni (8) Kieschnick, and Kade (11), Keller (8), and Kace (3) Kieschnick. He is also survived by 8 siblings Erna, Mel, Leona, Miriam, Doris, Ethel, John, and Darlene, and a number of their spouses, Jane, Ray, Elaine, and Lee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Lina Kieschnick, as well as in-law siblings Art Kollmeyer, Victor Kokel, Ardell Kalmbach, and Herb Wottrich.
Harold Kieschnick dedicated his life to serving his Lord Jesus Christ by serving people. Family and friends celebrated the sure promise of resurrection in a service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge. The family has requested that memorials may be sent in Hal's name to Baton Rouge Lutheran School Scholarship Fund, (10925 Florida Blvd., BR, LA 70815) LINCNewOrleans, (6230 Paris Ave., NOLA 70122), or the Recruitment and Scholarship fund of the Southern District, LCMS (68446 Tammany Trace Dr., Suite 5, Mandeville, LA 70471). "And these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."