Kleffman, Helen Mary (1924 - 2017)

KLEFFMAN, KLOEWER, MAGES, MALLONE, SCHWERY, CONNALLY, CLARK, BELL, SCHEULLER, RAU

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/31/2017 at 22:07:34

Name of deceased: Helen Mary Kleffman (nee Kloewer)

Aged: 93 yrs, 8 mo, 8 days

Residence: Portsmouth, Shelby County, IA

Born: April 13, 1924; Earling, Shelby County, IA

Died: Dec. 21, 2017; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, Dec. 29, 2017; St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima, Portsmouth, IA; burial was in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Portsmouth, IA

Survived by: Children, Bob Kleffman (spouse, Peggy) of San Ramon, CA, Ralph Kleffman (spouse, Caroline) of Olathe, KS, Glen Kleffman (spouse, Becky) of Portsmouth, IA, Lori (spouse, Bob) Mages of Panama, IA, Paul Kleffman of Harlan, IA, and Bernard Kleffman of Portsmouth, IA; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; siblings, Jim Kloewer (spouse, Rita) of Panama, IA, Edna (spouse, Keith) Mallone of Birmingham, AL, Louis Kloewer (spouse, Bernice) of Castle Rock, WA, Donna Schwery of Panama, IA, Charlet (spouse, Jerry) Connally of Tucson, AZ, Deanna (spouse, Gary) Clark of Gibbon, NE, and Mary Ann (spouse, Ken) Bell of Apache Junction, AZ; brothers-in-law, Harry Kleffman (spouse, Cecilia) of Harlan, IA, and Rev. Jim Kleffman of Council Bluffs, IA; sister-in-law, Mary Ann (spouse, Leon) Scheuller of Dawson, MN; nieces; nephews; cousins; friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Gottlieb and Eleanor (nee Rau) Kloewer; husband, Ralph Kleffman (deceased Feb. 18, 1983); sons, Bill and Steve Kleffman; sister, Jane Kloewer; brother, Donald Kloewer

Education: Attended country school and Catholic school in the various Shelby County, IA towns before attending and graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Panama, IA

Religious affiliation: Catholic: was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, IA, took First Communion at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, IA, and was confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manilla, IA.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Ralph Kleffman; Dec. 3, 1945; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Panama, IA

Employment: farmed with husband outside Portsmouth, IA, before moving into Harlan, IA in 1963. There, Helen held various jobs over the years, working as a waitress, at the dry cleaners, as a nurses’ aide, as kitchen help at Club 191 and a house cleaning job before she retired.

Hobbies/Interests: Loved to quilt, and had made nearly 50 quilts; she was a member of the St. Mary’s Quilting Circle in Portsmouth, IA. She was also a member of the Women’s Circle and a Birthday Club of 12 women and was the last surviving member. Helen enjoyed going to dances with Ralph in their younger years, as well as gardening, baking, and travel; she loved reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching some of her favorite TV shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com; findagrave.com