Robert J. Kieffer

Robert John “Bob” Kieffer, 100, of Liverpool passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023. Bob was the founder of Kieffer’s Cigar Store in 1972 with his wife, Thelma, after retiring from the Syracuse Veteran’s Administration Hospital. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II serving in Europe, Africa, and England. Bob had a gregarious personality and a kind heart and certainly brought many smiles to his family, friends, and anyone who crossed his path. He had a love of horse racing, sports, and cigars. Every morning Bob could be found “holding court” at his cigar store with his many friends. He was an avid golfer and scored four Hole-In-One’s in his lifetime, three of them at his favorite course at Green Lakes. Throughout his life he renovated his family home, built by his grandfather, and made improvements to every property he lived in. In recent years Bob’s house was the gathering spot for Sunday Football. He was much loved and will be deeply missed.

He was predeceased by the love of his life, Thelma Kieffer in 2019; his parents, Frank and Pauline Kieffer; his siblings, Edward, Frank, Paul, Martha, Mary, Eva, Ruth, and Elizabeth. He is survived by five daughters, Nancy Kieffer, Joan Hodgins, Carol (Ed) Maier, Mary (Jim) Piazza, and Ginger (Jeff) Kurtz; his grandchildren, Lisa Winner-Swete, Danielle Hodgins, Christa Olorunnimbe, Gina Haller, Leah Hodgins, Carina Hodgins, Grace Piazza, and Jimmy Piazza; his great-grandchildren, Austin Mixon, Erica Mixon, and Layla Ali; and many nieces and nephews. Bob’s family would like to thank Steve, Debi, Dawn, and the many others that worked tirelessly for our parents over the past twelve years, as well as the staff at the Syracuse VA Medical Center.

A calling hour will be on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 9 a.m. at Assumption Church, 812 North Salina Street with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s honor to the Assumption Food Pantry.

Leave condolences for the family on the Tribute Wall

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert J. Kieffer, please visit our floral store.