Hillyer, Jeanne Louise Kistler

Jeanne Louise Kistler Hillyer, 92, was born in 1921 in Grand Rapids, Mich. She passed away Dec. 31, 2013, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha after suffering a stroke.

Jeanne was a fashion designer in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s. She gave Liz Claiborne her first job in fashion. She enjoyed the New York night life and socialized with young actors who later became famous. This included Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Grace Kelly and Maureen Stapleton.

She met the love of her life, Lewis Hillyer, in those days. They loved their vacations in Nantucket, walking on the beach and spending time at sidewalk cafes.

Jeanne had her own fashion design company and designed gowns for Joan Crawford in the movie “Sudden Fear.” Jeanne was very creative, artistic, and original in her designs and in her personal style. She was a college professor of Fashion Merchandising and Design at Ursuline College in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1970s. She lost Lewis in 1976 and never remarried.

She spent the last 20 years living near her youngest son and daughter-in-law in Washington state, Arizona, and Iowa. She spent the last month of her life living with them and had stated how happy she was in their new home.

She will be greatly missed.

She leaves behind her younger sister, Phyllis Coombs, and brother, Bob Kistler, and their respective families; her sons, Robert and Richard; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Hospice House of Mercy.

There will be no services per Jeanne's wishes.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.iowacremation.com under obituaries.

Published Jan. 3, 2014 in The Gazette