Mpls, MN - May 12, 1939 - February 6, 2026

Elaine was born in Mankato, MN on May 12th, 1939. She lived there with her parents, Joyce & Earl Freye, until the outbreak of World War II. At that time she moved to St. Paul with her mother into her grandmother's home, while her father fought as an infantryman in Europe.

After the war, the family moved to Fergus Falls, where her father worked for the local Coca-Cola bottling plant and her mother went back to teaching. Her family grew in 1958 with the birth of her brother, Bob.

Elaine graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1957 and moved to St. Paul to attend Macalester College. While editing the school newspaper she met David Kienitz and the two married on April 21st, 1962. David worked in advertising, and Elaine worked as a Jr. High School English teacher in New Brighton. Together, they bought a house in Minneapolis. Not long after, the family expanded with the births of Steven, in 1964, then Tracy in 1966.

Forced to resign her teaching position, (as she was visibly pregnant, in front of impressionable adolescents!), she devoted her time to being a young mother and homemaker.

Inspired by next-door neighbors from the Netherlands, Elaine and David decided to move the family to Europe (West Germany) for a year of adventure. During that year, Elaine worked first as a cashier at the U.S. Army PX, then transitioned to teaching remedial English to soldiers.

Upon returning to the U.S.A., Elaine worked as a travel agent before returning to the profession of teaching, this time at Folwell Jr. High School in Minneapolis. While there she went to the U of M to earn her master's degree in special education.

Elaine had been involved in local politics since graduating college, and in 1979 she began working in the district office of the local Congressman, Martin Sabo. Over the 20 or so years she worked there, she managed a variety of issues, focusing particularly on transportation issues and military affairs. She remained there until her retirement.

She was denied her life-long desire of seeing a woman as President of the United States.

Elaine enjoyed travel throughout her life. She and David visited all 50 states and dozens of countries. In her later years she became a sports fan, having season tickets to the MN Lynx and frequenting Gophers women's basketball games.

She is survived by her son Steven.

Prededed in death by her parents Joyce and Earl, her brother Robert, her husband David and her daughter Tracy.

A celebration of Elaine's life will be held at Unity Church, 733 Portland Ave. St. Paul MN at 1pm Saturday May 9th.

To share a (brief) memory during the service, please send to Unity@unityunitarian.org

In lieu of flowers, donations to Unity Church would be appreciated, as would donations to elect a Democratic woman to the White House.