Jeffers, Katherine Belle Closz (1873-1959)

JEFFERS, BIERNATZKI, CLOSZ

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/25/2016 at 08:06:58

Daily Freeman Journal, Wednesday, July 29, 1959

Mrs. E. M. Jeffers died July 16, at the Hamilton County hospital and funeral services were held Saturday, July 18, with the Rev. Robert Shaw officiating. The former Katherine Belle Closz was born December 3, 1873, in Webster City, the eldest of ten children of Charles and Ida Charlotte [Biernatzki] Closz. Her early education was in the Lutheran and Public Schools of Webster City and it was continued at Iowa State Teachers College.

Although she was the first of the family to work in her father's office, she had an inspiration to enter Christian service, evidenced by early activity in the First Baptist church, where she was a member. She was a worker in the Sunday School and at the opening of a canning factory on the east side, she started a mission for families of laborers in that vicinity. Realizing the value of specialized training, she entered the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, graduating in 1902. After serving as YWCA Secretary at Michigan State Teachers College, she did a large amount of city and inter-state mission work for the Northern Baptist Denomination.

She was united in marriage to the Rev. Edward M. Jeffers of New York State, to this union were born two children, Marianne Louise and Gerald Dana. Throughout the years as pastor's wife, this brought the opportunity to serve as college advisor and student counselor for the Rocky Mountain District of the Woman's Baptist Missionary Board and with Colorado Woman's College in Denver, and also in positions on Colorado Interdenominational Committees.

Her abilities found ultimate expression in her home life, but early in 1917 she started a toy factory in Webster City, conditions resulting from the First World War, however, led to giving up the project. Following the death of Rev. Jeffers in Denver, the family moved to California, where both children graduated from the University of Redlands. In Redlands, Mrs. Jeffers continued active, as a sponsor of the Cosmopolitan Club (the largest campus organization), student counselor, member of the Hospital Auxiliary Board and director of the largest school of missions ever to be conducted in that community.

She returned to Webster City to be near members of her family still living here. She performed many acts of quiet thoughtfulness: flowers for the sick, gifts to service men and boxes for children's homes. During the Second World War, she supervised the collection and prepared and shipped over a ton of clothing and materials for European and later Korean Relief.

Other affiliations included: Charter member of the Unitersity of Redlands Fellows, Life member of the Hillcrest Foster Parents Fellowship in Dubuque, member of the Delphians and Sorosis of Orlando, Florida, and the Woman's club and Garden club of Webster City. Her death brought the close of a fruitful and devoted life, dedicated to service in the church, community and home.