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In memory of

Jonel Delaine Niesing

Suamico, WI

December 22, 1957 - December 15, 2021

Dec 22, 1957 - Dec 15, 2021

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Jonel Delaine Niesing, 63, of Suamico, Wisconsin, went home to the loving arms of Jesus on December 15, 2021. Jonel’s number one interest and purpose in life was people. She made friends with everyone she met with her encouraging spirit, infectious belly laughs, and abundant kindness. A lifelong motto was “people before things” as she daily displayed sacrificial love, consistently putting the needs of others above her own. It was important to her to foster a warm, inviting home, but it had less to do with the house itself — the warmth radiated from her.

Jonel was born in St. Louis, Missouri on December 22, 1957 to Bob and Iris Leipold. She graduated from Parkway North High School, Creve Coeur, Missouri in 1976. Despite growing up in the city, Jonel loved the outdoors, participating in Girl Scouts and finding a passion for horses, which paved her path to Wisconsin; she graduated at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 1980. In the years following graduation, every endeavor that Jonel pursued, from sales for Helene Curtis Industries to 15 years as a Pampered Chef consultant, she excelled because of how she built relationships with people. She also used this talent to shape children’s lives as a substitute teacher, leading to the pursuit of her teaching certification. Prior to her retirement in 2019, Jonel taught biology for 17 years at Kewaunee High School. Teaching was not just a job to Jonel — it was a ministry. She poured herself into her students academically and offered wisdom and support as a friend. Students frequently reached out to her years after their graduation to thank her for the influence she had on their lives.

Above all, her favorite “students” were her two daughters, Hannah and Rachael. She had a way of infusing biology lessons into everyday conversations, reminding the girls that mitochondrial DNA is exclusively inherited from the mother so a piece of her will always be with them. And the most lively dinner conversations were her retellings of pig or shark dissections from that day’s lab. They were often called “The Three Musketeers” and Jonel often made the sentiment that she wished them all to live on the same street one day. Part of that dream came true when she moved down the road from Hannah’s house, which also made her closer to her grandchildren, Lainie (“Bugsy”) and Kai (“Pie”). When she would visit Hannah’s house, Jonel would light up as the quick pitter-patter of small feet scurried to meet her at the front door: “Meme’s here!” Much like her love for her grandchildren, her creativity had no bounds — Jonel often paraded with markers as trumpets, blew bubbles in the bathtub, and curled up to read children’s books with great animation.

Jonel married Daniel Niesing on December 22, 2012. Jonel and Dan enjoyed walking, hiking, camping, playing games, and studying God’s Word with other Christian friends. She also enjoyed belly laughing at Dan's silly antics.

Jonel is survived by her husband Dan, her mother Iris, two brothers Lee (Cindy) Leipold and Rich (Cathy) Leipold, two daughters Hannah (Sefah) Agyekum and Rachael (Jacob) Slotta, and two grandchildren Delaine and Malakai.

In a recent letter, Jonel offered the following wisdom: “Keep a soft heart, always look to Jesus for everything and focus on what is true, honorable, whatever is just, pure, lovely, commendable; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things! Philippians 4:8.” We will remember and honor her for the “pure, lovely” person she was at a memorial service at Central Church, Green Bay, WI on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. preceded by visitation at 11:30 a.m.

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