Della Alma Manz Klingbeil 1916-1913

KLINGBEIL, MANZ, KUNERT, SINN, CLAYTON, F, SHELLABARGER, MATEJKA, KNAAK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/3/2013 at 21:54:01

Della Alma (Manz) Klingbeil, the daughter of Henry and Wanda (Kunert) Manz, was born August 11, 1916, in St. James, Minnesota. She died Saturday, August 31, 2013, at Sanford Jackson Hospital, in Jackson, Minnesota, at the age of 97.

Della was baptized and later confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church of South Branch, MN. She received her education in country schools near St. James, MN.

In her early 20's, Della was employed for several years by Jim and Barbara Graham of Spirit Lake, IA, as a nanny to their three daughters. Della then became a caretaker for several years of Mrs. Wilson, also of Spirit Lake, IA. Della and her sister, Elsie, worked at Bill's at the Clay County Fair, where Della cut pies into seven pieces and helped serve dinners consisting of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and a piece of pie, all for $.99. Later Della was employed at Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, IA, in the housekeeping department for several years.

On August 30, 1953, Della was united in marriage to August J. Klingbeil at Jackson, MN, and became a homemaker and helped August with the operation of the family farm. In the early years of their marriage she helped manage a flock of 500 chickens, gathering eggs three times a day and placing the eggs in 30 dozen cartons. Later the couple downsized the flock to 100 chickens for their own use, and Della also raised about 35 mallard ducks each year. Della had a large garden each year and did a lot of canning of the produce she raised. There were many flowers surrounding the house and out in the garden that Della tended and greatly enjoyed. She shared many of her flowers with her church. She had a great sense of humor, with a twinkle in her blue eyes.

Della was a great cook and baker, always having meals and lunches ready for August and family. She never missed a year in baking each one a birthday cake. Along with all her other work there was the need to repair holes in blue jeans so Della would patch, sometimes patch upon patch. She also liked to sew for herself and her daughter when she had time.

Della was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church at Estherville, IA.

Left to cherish Della's memory are her children, Marcia M. Sinn and her husband, Ron, of Jackson, MN; Joseph A. Klingbeil and his wife, Marcia, of Estherville, IA; grandchildren, Kent Klingbeil and his wife, Shelley, of Sheffield, IA; Kevin Klingbeil and his fiance, Christa Clayton, of Dexter, IA; Collin Klingbeil, of Dexter, IA; Kyle Klingbeil, attending college at Iowa City, IA; and Curtis Klingbeil, attending college at Brookings, SD; great grandchildren, Drake and Stella Klingbeil; step-granddaughter, Cheryl Sinn of Buffalo, MN; two sisters-in-law, Doris Klingbeil, of Estherville, IA, and Joan Manz, of Estherville, IA; two cousins, Lorraine Fay, of Wallingford, IA, and Christina Shellabarger, of Green Lake, WI; several nieces and nephews; Marilyn Sinn Matejka, of Jackson, MN, and many friends and neighbors.

Della is preceded in death by her husband, August; parents, Henry and Wanda Manz; sisters, Ella Knaak and Elsie Manz; and brothers, Joseph Manz, George Manz, and infant brother, Charlie Manz. (MC)

Burial: SILVER LAKE CEMETERY, AYRSHIRE, IA