Leona Ann Kleitsch

DAHLY, DELAGARDELLE, FEDERSPIEL, KLEITSCH, MICHELS, ORTNER, SICKLES

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 3/9/2024 at 14:09:37

Leona Ann Kleitsch age 90, passed away on March 2, 2024, at Prairie Hills Assisted Living.

Leona was born July 24, 1933, at Stanley, the daughter of Andrew P. and Mathilda M. (Federspiel) Michels. She graduated from Stanley High School in 1950. She attended St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Dubuque with the class of 1954. She worked at People’s Memorial in Independence, Iowa, and Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, Iowa, later in life she worked at Grandview Nursing Home in Oelwein.

Leona and Edward C. Kleitsch were united in marriage on October 12, 1954 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton, Iowa. To this union six children were born, Julie, Michael, Monica, Maria, Mark and Marcia.

Leona and Ed farmed together in the Dunkerton-Fairbank area until 1991 when they moved to Hazleton, IA. Leona was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Fairbank and the Fairbank American Legion Auxiliary. She loved her quilting group, flower gardens and bingo. She loved her family and adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Leona is survived by five children; Michael (Jackie) Kleitsch of Brooklyn, IA; Monica (Steve) Ortner of Harmony, MN; Maria Delagardelle of Independence, Mark (Angie) Kleitsch of Fairbank and Marcia (Doug) Sickles of Cresco,16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and one expected in the spring and one brother, James Michels.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie at birth, her parents, Andrew P. and Mathilda M. Michels, her husband, Edward C. Kleitsch in 2002; a sister, Sister Mary Dianne Michels; a son-in-law, Randy Delagardelle and a granddaughter, Jenifer (Ortner) Dahly.

Visitation: 4:00-7:00 pm Tuesday, March 5th with a 3:00 pm Rosary at Woods Funeral Home in Fairbank.

Funeral Mass: will be at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank on Wednesday, March 6th at 10:30 am with interment in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Lunch will be served at the Fairbank American Legion in Fairbank following the burial.

The family would like to thank Prairie Hills Assisted Living of Independence for caring for Leona along with Cedar Valley Hospice, which aided in her care later.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.