Helga Kielnecker

Helga Lieselore Fischer Kielnecker passed away in peace at the age of 87 on July 21st, 2022. Preceded in death by her late husband, Rolf Dieter Kielnecker and her son, York Stefan Kielnecker. A longtime resident of Alto/Ruidoso, NM and former resident of Cave Creek, AZ, and Santa Monica, CA.

Helga was born July 13th, 1935 in Neiderstetten, and grew up in Tubingen, Germany where she met Rolf. They immigrated first to Canada where they were married in 1958, and then to the US. Their epic journey to the American west began in Chicago, then Texas, Hollywood, and finally Santa Monica where they raised York and Timo and built Alfa Romeo of Santa Monica. They sold the dealership and moved to Desert Hot Springs, CA and opened a Spa. Sold the Spa and tried their hand at horse ranching in Cave Creek, AZ. Eager to keep the adventure going, they split their time between San Carlos, Mexico and Ruidoso/Alto, NM. It’s here in the southern highlands of New Mexico that Helga’s story ends.
 
Helga had many friends due in no small part to her fascinating life. Her story began in Germany, the daughter of Mayors (Burgermeisters) and secretaries of the Royal Court of Baden-Wurttemberg. The harrowing experiences of her childhood in WWII, and her education at Cambridge in England, were unique.  Helga was well read and spoke 4 languages. Her perspective and her gift for storytelling, had her friends rapt with great admiration and interest in her life. 
 
She provided a loving home in Santa Monica for York and Timo and all their friends, especially John DeUlloa. Always a great host, her love of cooking was appreciated by all. Many of these friends still to this day, speak of her as if she were their mother.
 
She is survived by her son Timo Kielnecker and his wife Rosemary, and daughter Sophia of Swampscott, MA; Christina Kielnecker, wife of her late son York and stepson Jordan of Longmont, CO. She is also survived by her large extended family in Germany; her brother Claus Fischer and his wife Anne, and their children Petra and Axel of Tubingen; her sister Renate Brakebusch and her husband Herwig, and their children Ariane, Boris and Lydia of Berlin; her cousins Hans Peter and Doris Heiland and their children of Innsbruck, Austria.

Special thanks to the hospice caregivers and all of the friends in New Mexico who gave Helga so much friendship, love and support. 

Services will be held at 1:30 pm local time, Friday, July 29, 2022 at Ft. Stanton, New Mexico.

Direct cremation provided by New Dawn Cremations. 

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