Kleffman, Rev. James F. (1934 – 2021)

KLEFFMAN, SCHUELLER, RAU

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 3/10/2021 at 14:24:26

Name of deceased: Rev. James F. Kleffman

Aged: 86 yrs, 8 mo, 13 days

Residence: Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA

Born: June 3, 1934; Portsmouth, Shelby County, IA

Died: Feb. 16, 2021; Elm Crest Senior Living Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA.

Funeral services: Private Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Portsmouth, IA; burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portsmouth, IA, with military honors tendered by the Portsmouth American Legion Post #547.

Survived by: Sister, Mary Ann Schueller (spouse, Leon) of Dawson, MN; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, John and Frances (nee Rau) Kleffman; siblings, Ralph, Harry, Walter, Charlotte, Alice, Harold, Norbert and Richard

Education: Graduated from St. Francis High School, Council Bluffs, IA, Class of 1952; spent his freshman year of college at Creighton University, Omaha, NE. Upon entering the Diocesan Seminary, he attended Loras College, Dubuque, IA, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. Fr. Kleffman attended major seminary at Mount Saint Bernard Seminary, Dubuque, IA, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Des Moines on June 5, 1960.

Religious affiliation: Catholic

Military service: In 1968, Fr. Kleffman entered the U. S. Army Chaplaincy, serving at Ft. Riley, KS, Tay Ninh, Vietnam and Bremerhaven, Germany until his discharge in 1972. In 1979, Fr. Kleffman returned to the Army Chaplaincy and was assigned to Worms, Germany until 1982 when he was next assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. through 1986. His next assignment was to Camp Humphries in Korea for 1 year and then to Fort Ord, CA. He then again entered civilian life in 1995.

Marriage: None

Employment: After entering the priesthood, Fr. Kleffman’s assignments from 1960-1968 included: Atlantic, Earling, West Des Moines, all in Iowa, and a teaching assignment at Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, IA. He then served in the U. S. Army Chaplaincy; when he returned to civilian life in 1972, Fr. Kleffman served in Des Moines, IA and Council Bluffs, IA. From 1979 through 1995, he again entered the U. S. Army Chaplaincy. He returned to civilian life in 1995 serving, Missouri Valley, Red Oak and Imogene, all in Iowa again, until he retired in 2003. In retirement, Fr. Kleffman served as needed in many SW Iowa Parishes and with Catholic Relief Services.

Hobbies/Interests: no information provided

Sources: harlanonline.com; cutleroneill.com