Cynthia L. Kieffer, 56, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, at home.

Cynthia was born in Waterloo, Jan. 31, 1959, to Richard Christopher and Sylvia “Joyce” Haugen.

Cynthia graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, and received a BS in social services. She married Peter L. Kieffer on July 4, 1977, in Waterloo, and they later divorced. She married Don Saltzman on May 8, 2009, in Waterloo.

Cynthia was a bright and precocious child. She lived life to the fullest, vibrant and upbeat. She shared the gift of life by donating a kidney to her brother, Randy Christopher, in 1989. She also had a gift for drawing and art. Her life had its ups and downs, but some words penned by Patterson Hood, best puts it all together: “To love is to feel pain, there ain’t no way around it. The very nature of love is to grieve when it’s over … it’s a wonderful world, if you can put aside the sadness … and hang on to every ounce of beauty upon you … “

She is survived by her mother, Joyce Haugen of Merritt Island, Fla.; her husband, Don Saltzman of Waterloo; three children, Tara Kieffer of Minneapolis, Jeremy (Lindsey) Kieffer of Waterloo and Alicia Kieffer-Hall of Minneapolis; three brothers, Randy Christopher of Nashua, Rick (Pam) Christopher of Janesville, and Rob (Aaron Crenshaw) Christopher of Minneapolis; four grandchildren, Zeke Kieffer, Ethan Hall, Dylan Kieffer and Sofia Hall; and four nieces and nephews, Destiny Christopher, Brittany Wegner, Mitchell Christopher and Victor Christopher.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Christopher, and stepfather Davis Haugen.