Adam J. Kierst
July 28, 1919 - February 8, 2009
Obituary
Adam J. Kierst
July 28, 1919 – February 8, 2009
Adam Kierst was born in South Amboy, New Jersey, the youngest of 10 children of Joseph Kierst and Augusta Kronemeyer Kierst. Six of the children lived to adulthood and he was surrounded by his extended German family during his youth. He loved the water and spent considerable time at the beach with the rowboat his father built for him. He met the love of his life, Virginia Manaker, there and asked her to go for a ride in his boat, out to the lighthouse on Raritan Bay. They were greeted warmly by the lighthouse keeper and his wife who gave them a tour of the light and thus began nearly 62 years of love and devotion. Adam graduated from St. Mary’s HS in South Amboy and married Virginia, at St. Mary’s on May 9, 1942. He had his induction papers with him on their honeymoon. Virginia left everything to be with him as much as she could before he went overseas, eventually traveling throughout the south in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Biloxi, Mississippi, during the war years. Their stories of the fresh shrimp and pecans enjoyed at their house in Biloxi was a highlight of their years stateside.
Adam was trained for mobile automatic weapons associated with an antiaircraft unit of the Third Division commanded by Gen. George Patton. He served in WWII with the Army and Army Air Corps seeing combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. After difficult combat, during which his unit was declared expendable, a breakout was subsequently undertaken, which enabled the troops to move inland and push the enemy up the Apennine Peninsula.
Adam returned stateside after combat and trained as an aircraft mechanic with the Army Air Corps. He was sent to Seattle, Washington, to the Boeing factory, traveling cross-country by train marveling at the beauty of Montana and the Northwest.
After the war Adam returned to his home in South Amboy and to his job with E.I. DuPont de Nemours DuPont with their photographic film division in Parlin, NJ. He started Candid Graphic Photos, and worked as a freelance news photographer publishing pictures in local newspapers, and being published by UPI and API, also illustrating books. He continued to reside in the house built by his father on Ward Ave., was a Publicity Chairman for the Republican Party, and active in local party politics and election campaigns. He was also very active in his church with the Knights of Columbus, ushering and working bingo for many years. He is a retired member of the South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad.
Adam retired from DuPont in 1981 with 40 years of service. After retirement Adam and Virginia moved to the Northwest in 1986 to be closer to their grandchildren and made their home in Burien, WA.
Adam was a gentleman, very social, outgoing, and well-liked by all who knew him. He was a man of culture, enjoying the opera and delighting in trips to New York City’s Lincoln Center, where he frequently enjoyed the opera and ballet with Virginia. They loved to spontaneously hop on a train to the city for the day and made many car trips to National Parks throughout the country.
Adam was preceded in death by Virginia in 2004. He is survived by his sister, Margarete Frey, South River, NJ, his son, Christopher J. Kierst Cheryl, Park City, Utah and his daughter, Claire Kierst Drosdick Edward, Des Moines, WA. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Anastasia Kierst Martin, Dallas TX, Jordan Claire Drosdick, New York, NY, Alexandria Madeline Kierst, Park City, Utah, and his grandson, Kyle Edward Drosdick, Des Moines, WA. He will be missed by his many friends at Wesley Terrace, and at St. Philomena, by his friends in Burien and friends and relatives residing in New Jersey.
Viewing will be at Bonney-Watson’s Parker Chapel, 900 SW 146th St., Burien WA from 2:00 -5:00 pm on Thursday, February 12, 2009 with Rosary at 4:00 pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 am on February 13, 2009, at St. Philomena Church, 1790 S. 222nd St., Des Moines, WA, with an interment service immediately following at 11:00 am at Tahoma National Cemetery. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Catholic Community Services, Seattle, WA, or to the South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad, South Amboy, NJ. Please sign the online memorial guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com
Adam was a great man, a good role model for many. I enjoyed working with him and glad he entered my life. Even though he moved far away, we always kept in contact. I will miss him. Don
I will alwyas remember Adam for his kindness, his smile and his help to me as a young engineer in the 1960’s at DuPont. My deepest sympathy to his family.
With deepest condolences and fond memory.
Chi Chiu
I worked with Adam for many years at Dupont. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for him. My deepest sympathy to his family for their loss
Jack and family
Having worked with Adam for many years at DuPont, I will always remember him as a gentleman. Our condolences to his family as we all share your sorrow in this loss.
Dear Claire and Family,
It has touched my heart to read all of these lovely stories about your father. Marlene forgot one funny thing: Marlene would always say, “Ma, they’re having mashed potatoes again for dinner!” Your father was so much in love with your mother that he probably didn’t care, and even if he did, he would never say anything. I also remember how well your mother sewed.
My deepest condolences and with love and South Amboy Pride!
Bosh Feldman
Chris, Claire and family,
Thank you Chris for notifying me of your Pops passing. He has been a great source for me with my “Remembering The Past” column in the Atom Tabloid-Citizen & Gazette, formally the South Amboy Citizen. He would e-mail 10 times a day, with memories of South Amboy and surrounding towns for my column. He would start off with “here is more scribble for your scribble pad.”
I remember him when I was a kid, while playing with the other kids on Ward Ave., living on South Feltus St. Your family was part of the “old neighborhood.”
I mostly remember Adam with camera in hand, coming to or leaving South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad, Inc. His pictures he took at SAFA are priceless. His pictures in the old South Amboy Citizen were always a pleasure to see.
He would often e-mail about you guys and what his grandkids were up too. I feel like I knew you all through Adam.
Thanks Adam for the memories!
Sincerly, Diane Norek Harrison
Dear Kierst Family, The Good Lord has taken another of our favorite people. The good times we had on Ward Ave. will burn brightly forever. I feel fortunate to have visited last year. I was delighted by his stories and happy to find him essentially the same man who I had known in the 60’s. We discussed the ” really good old days” when he knew my Dad and his siblings back in the 30’s & 40’s! Always a gentleman, Adam raised a splendid family together with Virginia. God Bless them both.
Dear Claire, Ed, Kyle and Jordan,
“It’s amazing how we don’t quite find the value in pictures…until the people in them are gone…”
Anonymous
Claire, we have been best friends since we were 4 or 5-years-old! I’m 59 now and can’t remember much since my near-fatal car accident in 2000 I so clearly remember your Dad taking pictures on your back porch of me in my priceless red cowgirl outfit..the one I wore when we went to Wild West City when you broke your collar bone! But you still got up on a horse! And Adam was always smiling, witty, telling stories… and taking pictures! I’m sure he must have taken alot of us when we were cheerleaders! We used to make each other laugh alot, too! He would be in the living room reading the paper and never would get angry when I slipped into that narrow hallway to just pick up your cool black vintage phone without the dial and just listen to your party line!!! I found it fascinating! You would tell me to hang up, but somehow I knew your Dad wouldn’t be mad at me! Chris, you and I would play with Skipper and then it was time for me to go home around the corner because it was dinner time. I loved your big kitchen and was always fascinated how it was acceptable to have butter on your table with meat since my grandparents kept Kosher. You all taught me the art of trimming a Christmas tree and I reciprocated with giving everyone heartburn with boxes of matzohs every Passover! What I remember most of all was the feeling of “family” in your home…it was like the Waltons! Your Dad was never too busy to sit and share a story and a laugh with me, your Mom was always busy around the house cooking or sewing, you had a cool big brother to hang with and the most adorable dog on the planet!
I was so happy your Dad came out to Jersey for Chazzy’s wedding. I have my whole family out here now in California, but I miss my 40 photo albums so much that I left in storage back in Jersey. I plan on bringing everything here soon!I remember how precise your Dad was taking pictures especially for the South Amboy First Aid and local newspaper and I feel confident he left a lasting impression on me at an early age!
Friendships like ours are few and far between. Please accept our deepest condolences to your family and Chris and his family in your Dad’s passing. Cherish your memories and cherish all those fabulous photographs your Dad took through the years!
It’s a beautiful thing when even in passing, just the thought of your loved one can make you smile! Your Dad was a kind, warm and wonderful man!
In our thoughts and prayers,
Marlene, Buddy, Bosh, Chazzy and Trent
I had a total knee replacement three weeks ago and deeply apologize for not coming out to be with you.
Dear Claire, Ed, Jordan & Kyle
Adam’s love of life and your family was so special! My fortunate meetings with him through the years always warmed my heart and brought a smile of happiness to be in his presence. My love to you all, Sallie
Dear Claire, While I was not fortunate enough to meet your dad, I always enjoyed your stories about him over the years, and reading his colorful obituaty. What a wonderful life he had! I know he must have been very proud of his family. I will be thinking of you and hope to see you soon. Love, Linda
My deepest sympathies go out to Adam’s family. I will miss his many e-mails that always contained interesting stories and historical information on South Amboy. I think that heaven now has a very talented photographer/historian in Adam Kierst. God Bless!
Dear Claire,
We were so sorry to hear your very sad news. I enjoyed hearing about your Dad during our last ski trip.We will keep you and your family in our prayers.
Teresa and Art
Dear Claire, Ed, Kyle and Jordan,
I’ll always remember wonderful Thanksgivings with your dad and mom. Adam was such a kick to be around and was an especially good storyteller a definite Kierst & Drosdick trait. Those years of joy and laughter with our families together are worth a million.
I’ll also forever cherish the cute pictures he made of Topher as a little kid on the horse trailer and of his “home hair cut!!” What a lucky girl I was to be the recipient of his gift as a photographer.
Adam adored his children and grandkids. He lived a good life, and he knew he was dearly loved.
I will miss seeing him at family events but will always remember his smile, his voice, and his humor.
Much love always,
Dana