Kling, Mary Eleanor (Pink) 1920-2011

KLING, PINK, KANE, FLETCHER, BIRKENHOLTZ, YODER, LUX

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:36

Mary Eleanor (Pink) Kling

Born: March 7, 1920, rural Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: November 13, 2011, Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 103
Married: Donald Kling on May 28, 1942 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Children: James, Jeffrey, Janna, and Junella
Parents: Andrew and Elizabeth Kane Pink

Mary Eleanor Kling, a lifelong resident of Newton, Iowa, passed away at Skiff Hospice Sunday morning, Nov. 13, 2011.

The only daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Kane Pink, Eleanor was born at the family farm home in the Sugar Grove Community of Jasper County, Iowa, on March 7,1920. She attended rural school and graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1938, receiving a normal training certificate. She taught in the rural schools of Jasper County and attended the State Teacher’s college during summers.

On May 28, 1942, Monsignor McCann joined her and Donald Kling in holy matrimony at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. Eleanor was an active member of the parish all her life, having been a member of the choir, a teacher of religious education classes and president of the Sacred Heart Society. She was a charter member of the Newton Song Stylist, a local choral group in the ‘40s and ‘50s, and a member of the Rural Women’s Chorus. She assisted with children’s school activities, campfire, Scouts and 4-H. Her greatest joy was reading and listening to the children read and seeing their report cards. Her family and friends will treasure the memory of her peanut brittle treats at holiday time. Her hobbies were reading and crocheting prayer shawls and afghans.

She is survived by her children, James (David) Fletcher-Kling of Rock Island, Ill., Janna Beth Birkenholtz of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and Jeff Kling of Sully, Iowa; her grandchildren and greatgrandhildren, Todd (Jenny) Birkenholtz, Mckayla and Keller of Pleasant Hill, Eric (Jill) Birkenholtz, Brady and Breckan of Des Moines, Iowa, Jessica and Jaymie Kling of Sully, Jasmine and Jacy Yoder of Newton and their guardians Lori and Gary Yoder and son Dylan; a sister-in-law, Jean Pink of Greeley, Colo., and Ardity Lux of Newton; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a daughter, Junella Kling-Yoder; a son-in-law, Steve Birkenholtz; and three brothers, Clifford, Bill and Paul Pink.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Nov. 16, at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1151 S. Eighth Ave. E. in Newton. A burial service will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Religious Education Program at Sacred Heart or Skiff Hospice.

To see more of Eleanor and her family in a video of her life, go to the Pence Reese website at www.pencefh.com.~ Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Wednesday, November 16, 2011