Kirsten J. Fleck Obituary

Kirsten J. Fleck, 54, of Independence, IA, and formerly of Marion, IA, died January 3, 2024, at MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center in Oelwein, IA, following a long battle with myotonic dystrophy.

Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. - Monday, January 15, 2024, at Hope Wesleyan Church in Independence. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time, Monday, January 15th at the church.

Kirsten Jeannine Miller was born August 31, 1969, in Cedar Rapids, IA, the daughter of Loren B. Miller and Carolyn Jean (Winslow) Miller. She grew up in Tipton, IA, and graduated from Tipton High School with the class of 1988. In her early years she loved to take ballet classes at the University of Iowa with the highlight of performing on stage during a school music program. She also liked to read and play board games. After high school she attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, and married Gabriel Gold. They would later divorce. Kirsten worked as a customer service representative for APAC and eventually met Christopher Fleck. They were united in marriage on February 14, 1998, in Cedar Rapids, IA. They made their home in Cedar Rapids, before moving to Omaha, NE, where Kirsten worked for the Marriott Corporation. As Kirsten's disease progressed, they decided to move to Marion, IA, to be closer to family and in 2020 they made their home in Independence, IA.

Kirsten had lived with myotonic dystrophy since her diagnosis in high school, but she never let it slow her down or diminish her positive attitude. Kirsten and Chris would attend many Camp Farthest Out (CFO) events which would help strengthen their relationship with God and build new relationships with friends. Kirsten enjoyed playing sudoku, UNO, and watching her T.V. shows, especially General Hospital, Dr. Phil, Law-and-Order: SVU, and the Bachelor/Bachelorette. Christian radio and worship bands were always a part of her day. She was so excited to attend concerts when able, with the added highlights of having the band DecembeRadio sign her cast, Michael Tait of Newsboys sing a song she requested, and Joel Smallbone from For King & Country give her a hug. Kirsten always had a smile on her face and easily found something to laugh about. Her grace, faith in Jesus, and determination to not let her disease define her, encouraged more people than she could imagine. Always a cat fan, Kirsten will be missed by her cat, Shelby. Kirsten and Chris were members of Hope Wesleyan Church in Independence.

Kirsten is survived by her husband of 25 years, Chris Fleck of Independence, IA; mother, Carolyn Miller of Waterloo, IA; two brothers, Joel Miller LTC (Retired) U.S. Army (Judi) of Lansing, KS, Aaron (Diane) Miller of Cedar Rapids, IA; one sister, Megan (Ken) Bahls of Mason City, IA; mother-in-law, Sherry Summers of Albuquerque, NM; three sisters-in-law, Stephanie (Greg) Levsen of Harrisonville, MO, Shelli Tharp of Kenansville, FL, Candace (Mick) Graf of Marengo, IA; one brother-in-law, James Baird of Cedar Rapids, IA; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents; her father, Loren Miller; her daughter in infancy, Patricia Gold; one brother, David Miller; father-in-law, Fred Fleck; sister-in-law, Jennifer Fleck; two nieces, Jessica Miller and Abby Robidoux.

Memorials may be directed to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation and the Association of Camps Farthest Out.

The family would like to thank all the staff at the Grandview Health Care Center in Oelwein for their care and support of Kirsten in her short time living at the care center.