KLINGENSMITH, Elma A.

KLINGENSMITH, COTTEN, BAKER, ALLEN, NAFE, ELSER, KLASCHEN, CHINN, MOHNING, SEIDA, THOMASON, FLEWELLING, CHRISMAN, DREFKE

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/21/2006 at 16:03:27

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Thursday, September 21, 2006

Elma A. Klingensmith, 93, of Washta, died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, at the Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Meadow Star United Methodist Church, rural Washta, with Rev. Bill Cotten officiating. Burial was at the Grand Meadow Cemetery. Visitation began after 2 p.m. Tuesday with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the Rhode~Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley.

Elma was born Nov. 20, 1912 in Grand Meadow Township, rural Washta, the daughter of Harvey and Alice (Baker) Nafe. She grew up in the Grand Meadow area, graduating from Grand Meadow Township High School in 1930. She married Rex Lyle Klingensmith on Nov. 5, 1933 in Moville. They lived and farmed their entire life in the Grand Meadow Township.

She was a member of the Meadow Star United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years, was a choir member, church pianist, Youth Fellowship leader, church historian and a member of the UMW. She was a charter member of the Grand Meadow Heritage Center where she was honored for her dedication to the Heritage Center on Sept. 9, 2006, at the annual Heritage Center Festival. She was active in starting the G.M. Museum as well as being the museum's historian.

Her creative talents included four family genealogy books, a slide presentation of the family history, the history of the state of Iowa, the Barn Story and a Memory Book was given to family members in 1969.

Elma's handiwork included many beautiful quilts, knitting, crocheting and embroidering.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rex on July 31, 1987, her sister and brother-in-law, Iva and Ralph Allen; two brothers, Floyd and Carl Nafe, a sister-in-law, Lela Nafe, and two sons-in-law, Ray Elser and Keith Klaschen.

Survivors include one son, Larry Klingensmith and his wife Penny of Washta; three daughters, Twila Klaschen of Washta, Gail Jean Chinn and her husband Roger of Grassy Butte, N.D., and Betty Elser of Fresno, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, Pam Mohning, Lon Klaschen, Robbin Seida, Rhonda Thomason, Ryan Elser, Tron Klingensmith, Ty Flewelling, Terry Klingensmith, Tami Chrisman, and Brad Chinn; 24 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren; six step great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and one cousin, Rena Drefke.