Elsie Marie (Kjar) SCHLEI

SCHLEI, KJAR, DETLEFSEN, HACKLEY, KEHELER, PARSONS, BRAMER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/1/2008 at 10:30:14

Elsie M. Schlei, 90, a former Klemme resident, died April 24, 2008 at the Belmond Health Care Center. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5 at the Klemme United Methodist Church with Reverend Paddy Druhl officiating. Burial will be in Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond and one hour prior to the service at the church in Klemme.

Elsie Marie, the daughter of Jens and Margaret Sophie Detlefsen Kjar, was born July 4, 1917 at Humboldt. She moved with her family to Rowan where she was raised. Elsie graduated from Rowan High School and continued her education at Des Moines College of Cosmetology. She was employed as a beautician in Klemme for a number of years. On May 4, 1941 Elsie married Kermit W. Schlei. They farmed southwest of Klemme. In addition to assisting her husband with the farm, Elsie was a devoted wife and mother. She worked at the veterinary office and the bank in Klemme. Elsie instilled the values of church and family in her children and made sure that they made it to Sunday School on a regular basis. She was an excellent cook, and made delicious pies.

Following Kermit's passing Elsie moved to Belmond where she was a unit clerk at the Belmond Hospital and later a volunteer. She made her home in Belmond for 20 years before moving to Elgin, IL to live with her son Daryl and his family. Elsie eventually moved back to Belmond. She resided at the Belmond Health Care Center for the past five years where she was a member of the Resident Advisory Board. On occasion she served as an ambassador. Elsie loved a good conversation and relished times spent in the presence of her family and her many friends. Elsie had fond memories of her trip to Greece and Turkey. She had been a long time member of the Klemme United Methodist Church. A few of her favorite past times included crocheting and tatting.

Elsie was preceded in death by her father in 1940, step-father Alt Hackley in 1968, husband in 1976 and mother in 1983. Survivors include sons Daryl (Susan) Schlei of Elgin and Duane Schlei of Rapid City; sisters Sena (John) Keheler of Colorado Springs and Ann Parsons of Davenport; brothers Nels (Lois) Kjar of Oelwein and Paul (Elaine) Kjar of Thornton; granddaughters Rebecca (Steve) Bramer of St. Charles, IL and Karin Schlei of Chicago; and great grandchildren Gillian, Samantha and Gavin Bramer.

The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Elsie's name consider the Klemme United Methodist Church or the Belmond Health Care Center Memorial Fund.

April 29, 2008
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