KLECKNER, Leona S. (Pattyn) 1926-2019

KLECKNER, PATTYN, LIEVROUW

Posted By: Volunteer73
Date: 11/7/2024 at 16:45:13

LEONA S. (PATTYN) KLECKNER
(February 17, 1926 – October 29. 2019)

Leona was born in rural St. Ansgar on February 17, 1926 the 3rd daughter of Rene and Martha (Lievrouw) Pattyn. She attended St. Ansgar Community Schools. Leona received the Des Moines Register’s Champion Speller Award in 1938 and graduated in 1944. After high school she attended Mankato Business School.

Leona returned to St. Ansgar to work at that St. Ansgar Citizens Bank as secretary to Oscar Miller. Leona worked at the bank for a total of 28 years, though not all consecutive. She worked for 3 generations of the Halvorson family. She cherished the relationships with co-workers and patrons. Leona retired in April of 1988.

In 1949 she married Maurice J. Kleckner. They started out in a small apartment in St. Ansgar, then rented the Koch farm just east of town for 7 years before buying their farm in St. Ansgar Township in 1961. They enjoyed 57 years together. Leona and Maurice were a great team, working together building their family and their farm.

On October 6, 1949 Leona and four other women organized the Stitch and Chat Club. The first meeting was held on November 10th with 12 members. This is not a federate club, strictly a club for women to relax, enjoy companionship and offering a lot to the community in the form of good work and deeds in a variety of forms. This was the first club to start auctions of crafts, foods, etc. Leona was active in the club well into her 80’s.

Maurice and Leona worked with people from St. Ansgar and the surrounding communities to establish a Catholic Church in St. Ansgar. In September of 1951 the first mass was held. Their son, Mark was the first child baptized in the church and their granddaughter Jessica was the first female alter person. Leona was very active in her church, serving in several positions on the Rosary Society, teaching religion classes and volunteering wherever needed. Her faith was very important to her.

Along her journey Leona built wonderful friendships. She spoke often of the many friends that passed before her and was excited to be reunited with them. There remain a few of her classmates, some great neighbors, co-workers and all the wonderful personnel at Good Samaritan Society. She was blessed to share her life with friend and longtime tenant Russ Nelson, and Linda Currens who provided so much loving care and support to Leona.

Leona loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Mark Kleckner, Steven (Janet) Kleckner, Nancy (Tommy) Schrag, Ernie (MaryBeth) Kleckner, Sally (Bob) Hertel, Patrick (Marianne) Kleckner, 10 grandchildren Matthew, Luke (Mimi) and John Kleckner, Chrissy (Mike) Hultman, Adam (Lisa Marie) Schrag, Spencer Schrag, Jessica (Landon) Perkins, Jenny (Chris) Flatness, Jackson Hertel (Erika Heideman) and Emily Kleckner, nine great-grandchildren with number 10 arriving in January.

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Leona S. Kleckner

Born: February 17, 1926
Died: October 29, 2019

Funeral Service:
Date: Tuesday, November 5 10:30 a.m.
Location: Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville

Burial:
Date: November 5, 2019
Location: St. Ansgar Cemetery