SCHLEI, Elsie M. (1917-2008)

SCHLEI, KJAR, DETLEFSEN, KEHELER, PARSONS, BRAMER, HACKLEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/30/2013 at 23:20:57

Elsie M. Schlei, age 90, a resident of Belmond, formerly of Klemme, died on Thursday, April 24, 2008, at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, May 5, at the Klemme United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paddy Druhl will officiate. Burial will be in the Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m.,
on Sunday, May 4, at the Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond and continue one hour prior to the services at the church in Klemme on Monday.

The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Elsie's name consider the Klemme United Methodist Church, Belmond Health Care Center Memorial Fund, or to a charity of their choice.

Elsie Marie Kjar, the daughter of Jens and Margaret Sophie Detlefsen Kjar, was born on July 4, 1917 at Humboldt. As a young child she moved with her family to Rowan where she was raised and attended Rowan Schools. Elsie graduated from the Rowan High School and continued her education at the Des Moines College of Cosmetology. Following graduation from cosmetology college, Elsie was employed as a beautician in Klemme for a number of years.

On May 4, 1941, Elsie was united in marriage to Kermit W. Schlei. The couple's union was blessed with two sons, Daryl and Duane. Elsie and Kermit
farmed and raised their family on a farm southwest of Klemme. In addition to assisting her husband with the farming duties, Elsie was a devoted wife and mother. She worked for periods of time at the Klemme Veterinary Office and at
the bank in Klemme.

Elsie worked hard to instill the values of church and family in the lives of her children and made sure that they made it to Sunday School on a regular basis. She was an excellent cook, and made delicious pies, and for the first year of her marriage to Kermit she had provided him with the daily delights and savory tastes of a made from scratch banana cream pie.

Following Kermit's death in 1976, Elsie moved to a home in Belmond. After moving to Belmond she was employed as a clerk in the records department at the Belmond Hospital. She made her home in Belmond for 20 years before moving to Elgin, Illinois to live with her son, Daryl and his family for 3 1/2 years.

Elsie eventually moved back to Belmond where she resided at the Belmond Health Care Center for the past 5 years. During her years at the Belmond
Health Care Center, she was very active as an Ambassador and also served as a member of the Resident Advisory Board for the facilities.

Elsie loved a good conversation and relished times spent in the presence of her family and visiting with her many friends over the years. In later years at the care center, she looked forward to the many activities there and enjoyed getting to know nearly all the staff who worked there and many of the residents. Special friends were always an important part of Elsie's life.

She truly had a wonderful repertoire with nearly everyone she met during her life journey whether the person was a family member, friend, or a total
stranger. Elsie was very much a people person.

Elsie had done some traveling during her life and had fond memories of her trip to Greece and Turkey. She had been a long time member of the Klemme United Methodist Church and a volunteer at the Belmond Medical Center. A few of her favorite past times included tatting and crocheting.

Those who knew her well will remember her as a lady who had a great mind and a knack for remembering people, places, dates, and events. Some might also remember her as the lady who toured the area and tooled around Belmond in her
flashy red, T-top Camaro. Elsie was a lady who lived each minute of her nearly 91 years to the fullest.

Those left to cherish the memory of Elsie's life include her sons, Daryl and wife, Susan Schlei of Elgin, Illinois and Duane Schlei of Rapid City, South Dakota; her sisters, Sena Keheler and husband, John of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Ann Parsons of Davenport; her brothers, Nels Kjar and wife, Lois of Oelwein and Paul Kjar and wife, Elaine of Thornton; her granddaughters, Rebecca Bramer and husband, Steve of St. Charles, Illinois and Karin Schlei of Chicago, Illinois; great- granddaughters, Gillian and Samantha Bramer and great-grandson, Gavin Bramer, all at home with their parents' in St. Charles,
Illinois; also many nieces, nephews, and many special friends.

Elsie was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret in 1983; her father, Jens Kjar in 1940; her step-father, Alt Hackley in 1968; and her husband, Kermit in 1976.