Ann (Kloberdanz) LEE

LEE, KLOBERDANZ, ANDREWS, MAUER, ANDERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/11/2009 at 10:29:38

Clear Lake Mirror Reporter, Iowa
Dec. 13, 2006

Ann (Mrs. Douglas) Lee, age 84, of Clear Lake, died, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, at the Belmond Medical Center Hospice Unit with her family at her side following a courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Dec. 4, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake. The Rev. John R. Telp officiated. Burial was in the Elmwood-St Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial, card, or other expression may send their expression to Ann's husband who is presently residing with her daughter in Belmond, C/O Douglas F. Lee and daughter Laurie (Mrs. Tony) Andrews, P.O. Box 224, 512 1st Street S.E., Belmond, IA, 50421.

Ann Kloberdanz, the daughter of Frank and Margaret (Mauer) Kloberdanz was born Dec. 11, 1921, at Britt, Iowa, the seventh of nine children. Ann was baptized and confirmed at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City. She attended Holy Family Church Elementary and High School. In early adulthood she she took on the responsibility of helping to care for her ailing mother and assisting her father in caring for her siblings. She then was employed as a bookkeeper for a cleaning service in Mason City. Her people skills, salemanship, and meticulous eye for fashion and clothing led to her career of more than 17 years in sales at the Style Shop in Mason City. Her warm and friendly personality and knowledge brought repeat clients from miles around. On May 5, 1948 she was united in marriage to Douglas F. Lee at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City. This union was blessed with two daughters, Debbie and Laurie. In 1949, Ann and Doug decided to build a lake cottage on the south side of Clear Lake for summer getaways. In 1958, the couple made their cottage in Clear Lake their permanent home and worked as a team in remodeling and expanding it and they have lived there since. In 1958, the couple purchased and renovated a closed bowling alley and coffee shop in Ventura and operated it under the name of "The Village Inn." Ann and Doug turned the restaurant into one of the premiere steak houses in the region, along with a thriving bowling operation. In 1968 they sold the business and it's named was changed to what is known today as The Colony Inn in Ventura. Following retirement from the restaurant, Ann became a full time mother and house wife to her two daughters and husband, though she occasionally worked part-time at Clear Lake clothing stores and for the schools, while her husband returned to his business known as Lee's Construction, Inc.. Ann and her husband loved to attend farmer's markets and her delicious pies and pastries were treasured by numerous customers around the area. Many knew her as "The Pie Lady." Her desserts and salesmanship made her the top seller on many occasions, even receiving media recognition for rapid sellouts at the markets. She was always busy seeing to the needs of her family with love, kindness, and devotion. She was a meticulous house keeper; always making sure everything had a place. Her hobbies were numerous including crocheting, sewing, collecting, and saving, raising a lovely garden and flowers, as well as taking an excursion to play the slots. She loved shoes and clothes and always had to be sure everything coordinated. Ann absolutely relished going shopping and planned for Christmas by buying gifts for her family throughout the entire year. Ann truly was a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law, and sibling. She cherished each and every opportunity to be with her family, no matter what the occasion. She always wanted to make sure that everyone else's needs were taken care of before her own. For many years she, Doug, and Laurie, traveled to Chatsworth, Calif. to visit Debbie and help with work around their property and took family journey's to various other places. She also looked forward to family camping trips, teaching her girls etiquette, golfing, and loved seeing the Pope and Jimmy Carter. She and her husband loved to dine out and go ballroom dancing. For the past 12 years they operated the Red Barn Antiques and Craft Store in Clear Lake. She loved her church and was devout catholic, as a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church she would help with providing and serving of food at funerals and on other occasions. She also was always there when needed by her children, whether it was covering the funeral home phones for Laurie and Tony, watching her grandson and apple of her eye, Zach Andrews, watching the pets, or helping out with Debbie and Dale's various activities on their ranch in Clear Lake. For the past nine and one-half years she was one of the best grandmothers that one could ever ask for, surrounding her grandson Zachary with bountiful love and devotion. Their love and bond was inseparable. Those who knew Ann well will remember her as gentle, yet stubborn. She was somewhat quiet on first acquaintance, but warmly received those who were in her presence calling them by first name. She was a lady's lady. Her family will truly miss their relationship with Ann as a devoted wife of 58 years, loving mother, and loving Grandma Ann. As a mother she was also a "best friend" who always had time for them. They will cherish memories of delectable dinners and desserts, and all the fun and love shared with her at gatherings, celebrations, and other occasions. They will miss her companionship, tender care, and the daily conversations shared with her on the phone or in person. Her loving support, as the number one cheerleader in everything that they did.

Those left to cherish the legacy of her life and mourn her death, include her husband of over 58 years, Douglas F. Lee, of Clear Lake, currently residing with his daughter, Laurie, in Belmond; daughter, Debbie Anderson and husband, Dale, Clear Lake; daughter, Laurie Andrews and husband, Tony, Belmond; her grandson, Zachary Andrews, Belmond; a brother, John Kloberdanz and wife, Jo, Uba City, Calif.; very special relatives, Margaret Lee, and Doug H. "Dude" Lee and wife, Phyllis, all of Mason City; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, "Baby Boy Lee"; four brothers, Frank, George, Peter, and Joseph; two sisters, Margaret and Pauline. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, was in charge of arrangements.