Jack Kaiser

John (Jack) Nelson Kaiser, 90, died on March 3, 2022. Born on February 13, 1932 in Dayton, Ky. to Harry and Marie Kaiser, Jack was predeceased by his wife Elaine Schroder Kaiser, and his brothers Dave, Robert, and Harry Kaiser and sister, Shirley Ackman, and his nephew Roy Thomas Ackman (Pat). Jack is survived by his children, Allison Rene Kaiser (Jim Eichner) of Lexington and John Nelson Kaiser of Danville; and grandchildren, Zachary Howard Eichner and Katherine Marie Kaiser along with his niece Pamela Marie Bierbaum (Dennis), six grand nieces and nephews and twelve great-grand nieces and nephews.
Jack and Elaine, his high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years, made a small farm near Danville KY a family home for the last 50 years, where they raised their children, along with any number of pets and livestock. Here he established his design studio, JN Kaiser Associates, which he ran with his son, John Kaiser. A designer who worked internationally in the field of industrial and marketing design, he designed a variety of award-winning products over the course of his 60-year career, including toys, tools, and bathroom fixtures for clients such as American Standard, Sears, and Little Tikes. He holds approximately100 design and mechanical patents. Jack was a member of the Industrial Designers Society of America and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College of Applied Arts. The Industrial Designers Society of America selected Jack’s work for inclusion in Design in America, a book of outstanding American industrial design. In an article in the Wall Street Journal, he was labeled “the Christian Dior of water-closet couture” for his innovative bathroom fixture designs. He also worked with graduate-level student groups at schools such as the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, OH. Jack is a retired Captain of the U.S. Air Force and was involved in designing the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton Ohio.

Jack loved nothing more than to have several creative projects in process at any given time, with family and friends participating and sharing with him in every way. His passions included painting, metal sculpting, gardening, and home remodeling. Jack cherished meals that went long into the evening, deliciously prepared by Elaine, and shared with family and friends. His dry humor kept spirits high through water-logged camping trips and boating excursions that ended with a lot of paddling. Annual hunting trips with his brothers, friends, son, nephews and grand nephews and any reason to share time with family brought him great joy. Jack had a deep work ethic, loved his family and friends fiercely, never over-shared, and kept his own counsel.

A private ceremony will be observed by immediate family and a memorial celebration will be planned at a later date. Condolences can be sent to John Kaiser at 4250 Harrodsburg Road, Danville KY 40422. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to First Christian Church of Danville https://www.firstchristiandanville.com/giving and the Arts Center of the Bluegrass https://artcenterky.org/support/donate/.