Senior Master Sergeant Mike Kienitz, 79, passed away from Alzheimer's Disease on Monday, June 6th, 2022.  He was surrounded by his wife Betty and daughters Cindi and Terri,  at his Murrieta, CA care facility Vineyard Place. 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MIKE KIENITZ

Mike was a native Californian who lived in the state all of his life. He was born in Culver City in 1942 and grew up in Santa Monica. He attended elementary and junior high schools there and graduated from Santa Monica High and Santa Monica City College. His parents, Bea and Ernie Kienitz, instilled a love of the outdoors in Mike  and his brother, Eric (Ric). They took many family camping trips and enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities. This led him to become an avid backpacker who hiked many miles into the Sierra Nevada mountain range and also camped in local mountains. He climbed Mt. Whitney twice with his brother. He and Ric also included their children on many backpacking excursions when they grew older.

Mike met his wife Betty while attending Santa Monica College. Theirs was a long engagement because shortly afterward he enlisted in the Air Force and served a couple of years before their wedding. He rose from Airman Basic to Senior Master Sergeant over a period of 28 years – four years in active service and 24 in the reserves including two with the Navy. He served in the Strategic Air Command, the 452nd Refueling Wing, and later in the cargo wing – all at March AFB. He also did temporary duty assignments in England and Hawaii.

Betty and Mike have two daughters, Cindi and Terri. They have been blessed with four delightful grandchildren – all of whom are now young adults. They lived for 40 years in Riverside where Mike worked for the University of California in several science departments as a Principal Electronics Technician – repairing, maintaining, and sometimes building laboratory equipment. From childhood on he had a talent and interest in machines and tools. His mother once said that the toys he got for gifts were often taken apart and put back together again by him before he played with them. As an adult he became a true “Mr. Fix-It” for anyone needing a repair job.

His interest in machines extended to classic cars and he owned three of them – a 1957 Chevy, a 1964 Thunderbird and – his true love – a 1949 Cadillac limousine. In retirement years, after he and Betty, moved to Murrieta, they were active in the Temecula Valley Car Club.

Church has always been an important part of their family life. He could be counted on for maintenance duties, barbequing for social events, and helping wherever it was needed – including helping to build an education building at one of the church sites.

About ten years ago he was diagnosed with dementia and eventually that diagnosis was extended to one of Alzheimer’s. He became a resident of Vineyard Place, a memory care facility, where he lived for nearly four years and was lovingly cared for by its staff and eventually the staff of Journey Hospice. His family is extremely grateful for the care he received. Mike went to be with God on Monday, June 6, 2022.

Mike led an active and fulfilled life. His interests were varied. In later years, after his daughters were launched on their own lives, he and Betty traveled extensively throughout the United States and also in Europe.

He has always been ready with a smile and a joke, and spending time with life-long friends. His family is very proud of him and will miss him but are comforted by faith and our memories. 

Mike's family wishes to thank all his family and friends for a lifetime of love, support and encouragement.  

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