Klein, Katie (Leydens)

KLEIN, LEYDENS, KLOET

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:17:19

Funeral services for Mrs. Katie Klein, 86, of Pella were held September 20 at the First Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. James P. Ebbers officiated and Rev. Kenneth A. Dykstra assisting. Music was provided by organist Iris Vander Wal and duets sung by Ruth Ann and Michael Kuhn with Kara Vander Werff, accompanist.

Interment was at the Graceland Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were -"grandchildren", John and Lisa Klein, Kara and Jason Vander Werff, Ross and Karen Klein, and Kristin and Joel Bennett.

Cornelia Leydens, the fifth of six children that were born to Matthew and Minnie Kloet Leydens, was a 3 lb. baby born on December 6, 1915 in Jasper County near Lynnville/Sully, Iowa. As a young girl she lived with her parents near Sully, Monroe, and Otley and later at Hollandale, Minnesota before they moved to Pella, Iowa. Katie, as she became known, received only a grade school education. Following her grade school graduation, Katie worked in Newton. Working became a significant part of Katie's life. She then worked at the Pella Canning Factory and the Overall Factory in Pella.

On January 25, 1938 she and John Ed Klein eloped to Kirksville, Missouri where they were married. Then to this union two sons were born: Ralph Eugene and David Edwin. John was working for the Farmers Union in the grocery store at the time of their marriage. Katie was also eventually employed there doing laundry for them in her home. In 1941 John began working at the oil station and hauled fuel and in 1955 started driving for Grootveld Oil Company, which he did for the next 26 years.

Katie remained an "at home mom" during these years while also doing house cleaning for a few families in Pella, including the Kanis family. Despite her working responsibilities, Katie's family always came first and continued to do so with the arrival of her grandchildren. Katie and John lived at 909 East 1st Street in Pella for 56 of their almost 61 years of marriage and were living there when he passed away December 23, 1998. He attained the age of 84 years.

Very soon after his death, Katie became a resident in the Sheltered Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella. Katie was cared for there the remainder of her life where she passed away Tuesday morning, September 17, 2002 at the age of 86 years, nine months and 11 days.

Katie was a lifelong member of the First Reformed Church in Pella where she and her late husband, John, occupied the same unreserved seat in the church balcony for 42 years. Katie enjoyed music, playing the accordion and singing hymns. She was a self-educated speller and did a lot of reading.

She is survived by her two sons and her two daughters-in-law, whom she was very fond of: Ralph E. and Clara (Hoven) Klein, David E. and Janice (Ver Ploeg) Klein both of Pella; and her four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Of her original family, Katie leaves two older sisters: Lena (Lionel) Potts of Des Moines, and Clara (Clifford) Kohler of Novato, California.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ed; her parents: Matthew and Minnie Leydens; her oldest brother, Reuben Leydens and two sisters: Bessie (Norris) Hagan and Jeanette (Dale) Reeser.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

Memorials may be made to the organ renovation fund of the First Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

The Pella Chronicle, September 27, 2002