Private family memorial services for Kelsey E. Kivisto, 23, Los Angeles, Calif., will be held at a later date in Lawrence. Kelsey passed away Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Los Angeles.
She is the daughter of Julie (Lienhard) Kivisto and Tom Kivisto. Other survivors include her sister, Lissa Kivisto, her brother, Blake Kivisto, two aunts, Betsy Lienhard Scott and husband Bruce and their children Jessica, Ryan, and Cody, and Amy Lienhard and her husband Jack Smithback and their children Chelsea and Sebastian, an uncle, Bob Kivisto and his wife Celia and their children Michael and Ben, and her maternal grandparents, Bill and Jeanine Lienhard. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Ernie and Jane Ann Kivisto, an uncle, Eric Lienhard, and a cousin, Kyle Scott.
Contributions may be made to the Kelsey Kivisto fund at silverlakeconservatory.com/donate, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Julie
We are so deeply sorry to hear about the passing of Kelsey. No mother should have to say goodbye to her young daughter…. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and know that Kelsey is among the Angels now.
Mary and Darrell Weakland
Dear Julie and Tom,
I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter Kelsey. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Melissa Abel
Julie and Tom, my prayers are with you both as you go through this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. May the grace of God bring you peace. Melissa
Julie & family,
Words can’t express our sorrow for the loss of your beautiful Kelsey…thinking back to your days in Wichita when she was born & we had “baby play dates” with our little St Thomas group. Such a beautiful baby she was!!!!
Your Wichita friends mourn this tragic loss along with you…know that your family is in the prayers of many.
Deepest condolences, Jennifer Schuster & family
Julie & family,
Hugs, prayers and deepest sympathy on your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Julie and Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. Please know my thoughts and sympathy are with you all during this time. Keep the Faith and know that God will take care of you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kim R.Wrench
We were so sad to learn of Kelsey’s death. Losing a child is not something a parent should ever have to do. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Kivisto family!
Julie and Family – My deepest, deepest sympathies at this time of loss and sadness…
Thinking of all of you! You will all remain in our prayers. No family should have to say goodbye to someone so young. Hoping you are sharing some good memories! Hugs to all the Kivisto family.
Dear Tom
I am so sorry to hear of your and your family’s loss. While I did not know Kelsey,the messages posted here speak volumes for her spirit and beauty. Having lost my daughter when she was 25, puts me in the horrible company of being able to share with you how I have managed these past 9 years. Other than the passage of time, I can only suggest that you speak Kelsey’s name often. Sharing memories aloud will keep the door to Kelsey’s life open. My deepest sympathy to you, Julie, Lissa and Blake.
i remember sharing BK booster club duties with you Julie and the times I drove the kids home. Kelsey was 3 maybe 4 and always such a delight to have in the car.
You and your family are in my prayers.
Tom and Julie,
Sorry for the loss of Kelsey. I am so saddened. I know nothing can replace the hole in your hearts where Kelsey was. She was such a loving spirit. I was so blessed by her friendship and your family. I will never forget. My family is praying for your family.
Julie, Tom, Blake, and Lissa,
Kelsey will always be in our hearts. Our prayers are with you.
Ofelia White and family
So much love going to you, Julie & family! Prayers every day are being said for Kelsey & your family! God, give us the strength, wisdom, & courage to get through each & every day! Amen!
Julie,
My heart breaks for you as you grieve the loss of your precious Kelsey!
I am grateful for your strong faith and pray that you will feel His comfort guiding you through this difficult time.
In His love,
Kathy Craft
Dear Tom and Julie,
Be assured of my love and prayers and that of the Benedictine Sisters. We had a Mass for the Repose of Kelsey’s soul
this morning.
We shall keep her in our prayers,
Love,
Sister Mary Clare
Bill, Jeanine, Tom, Julie, Betsy, and Amy,
Deepest condolences from our families to your families. May His strength give you strength in these tough times.
Dear Julie and family,
Words cannot express how very sorry we are to hear of Kelsey’s passing. May God bless her and you all as you grieve.
Tom & Julie.
I am so very sorry to hear about this tragic news. Kelsey was a very special young woman.
My thoughts & prayers during this most difficult time. God Bless your family.
Kelsey was an amazing person inside and out. We lived together in Rockford and she always understood what I was going through. She was an amazing friend and will never be forgotten. Gone too soon. Rest in peace beautiful.
Dear Tom and Julie,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I will pray for your hearts often as you come to my mind. Remembering that as Christians, we will be reunited with our loved ones gives me hope. Love is forever, so keep the memories of her fresh by reaching with a greater purpose of love in your lives. God bless your dear hearts.
Roger
Dear Bill & Jeanine,
I am so sorry to hear that your beautiful granddaughter passed. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Lenette Hamm
Dear Julie and Tom, I am so sorry to learn of the passing of your lovely daughter. My sympathy to you and her brother and sister.
Dearest Julie and family, I am so deeply sorry to hear about the passing of Kelsey. This is a grief no parent should ever know. I keep you in my heart, and in my prayers.
Hospice gave me this poem as Maggie neared her time to join God. At first I only read it once or twice but then, as its comfort and wisdom set in, many more times. I offer it in hope that it will comfort you as much as it did me. Remember the Holy Spirit is the part of God that is with us at all times.
Gone From My Sight
by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone”
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
And that is dying…
Kelsey and I lived in Rockford, Illinois together in 2009. I was immediately attracted to her smiley and bubbly personality and it didn’t take long for us to become friends. Kelsey was someone I didn’t feel afraid to talk to about anything. Her warm presence allowed me to be vulnerable without fear of judgement. We have so many memories in Rockford that I will cherish forever. I am so grateful that Kelsey loved to take pictures because I now can keep those and always be reminded of our memories together. I remember we would always play rock band together and she would always play drums. Her rockstar name was “KbabyK!” After she left Rockford our communication unfortunately came to a minimum. She eventually moved to LA and I started school, but I think we both always knew that we had each others support no matter what.
When I heard about Kelsey’s passing I was shocked. Out of all the people I lived in Rockford with, I knew she was going to be one of the few that I would ever see again. Selfishly, I felt anger that she had been taken from us, but I know now that she does not have to hurt anymore. I extend my heart and prayers to Kelsey’s family and friends. She truly did impact my life as I’m sure she did many. I love you Kelsey and I know we will play rock band together up in the sky one day.
Gone far too soon. It was with such sadness that we learned of Kelsey’s passing. Prayers to all the family. Cherish the memories.
“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.”
I will forever miss you, my friend. You always brought a smile and laughter to me whenever we hung out in high school. Hoedown ’09 was one of the best times in high school for me because you were my date. I remember that night after eating at Chili’s I walked out to Brotherton’s car and kept trying to get in, only to realize I was try to open the door to the wrong car. You opened the door, called my name, and started cracking up. I got in the right vehicle and was so humiliated, but you said “it’s okay girl, we can be weirdos together.” You didn’t care how people looked or acted…you would befriend them in a heart beat and not judge them for who they were. I admire that. I won’t forget the message you sent me on Facebook in February when I was doing acting and preparing for a film, you contacted me even though we hadn’t talked for a while and said that I could stay with you if I’m ever in California and that you were proud of me for my accomplishments. You never forgot about your friends and always made them feel loved. It’s like I said, there was a glimmer to your heart and spirit, one that you don’t see to often in this crazy world. I am so deeply saddened that you are gone, but I know you are no longer suffering, you’ve been set free and are fly amongst the most beautiful angels now. I am proud to call you my friend, and honored to have had you in my life. May you rest beautifully, and know that we will see each other again. I love you so much, Kelsey, and will miss you deerly.