Ingrid Kizen, age 97, formerly from New Richmond, Wisconsin, died in Seattle, Washington on January 8, 2024, of natural causes. She is survived by her three children, Tanya [Michael] McLeod, Mania [Lawrence] Moore, Dr. Paul [Debra] Kizen, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren in the U.S., and by four siblings who live in Germany.
Ingrid, born Ingrid Lange in Berlin, Germany in 1926, grew up in Bavaria. To get to her high school in winter, she would ski from her house to the town train station and take the train. After WWII ended, food was so scarce that her family traded their piano to a local farmer for butter. Later, while working as a waitress, she met her future husband, Zig Kizen, a captain in the 101st Airborne Division.
Ingrid moved to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where she and Zig raised their family. She worked for a time for attorney John Doar and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and later a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Minnesota, where she became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She worked for many years as a clinical social worker in the OB/GYN Clinic at Hennepin County General Hospital in Minneapolis. Ingrid was politically active and regularly wrote letters to newspapers and leaders. She was a passionate gardener, and her large back yard was mostly garden, where she grew fruit, vegetables and flowers. She only gave up gardening when, at the age of 89, she could no longer drag a bale of hay from her garage to the garden. She enjoyed classical music; Bach’s Prelude in C Major was one of the piano pieces she liked to play. Ingrid was a lifelong reader of current events and especially history.
5 Comments
She was such a great lady to know, was always fun to visit with her.
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Ingrid when her husband was still alive. She had a funny sense of humor. I remember her as always doing something in her garden. She was a very kind lady and had lots of knowledge to give.
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Ingrid when her husband was still alive. She had a funny sense of humor. I remember her as always doing something in her garden. She was a very kind lady and had lots of knowledge to give.
I didn’t know Ingrid Kizen, but her son, Paul was in my chemistry class long ago. From Paul’s mature and intelligent, thoughtful nature, I’d say those are qualities that he inherited / absorbed from his mom. A fine, intelligent, good-hearted woman.
Ingrid Kizen was my father’s cousin. I never met her but we exchanged lots of emails about family history. She was always very kind and full of stories.
Add Comment