Helen Mary Kleffman
April 13, 1924 — December 21, 2017
Helen Mary Kleffman was born April 13, 1924 in Earling, Iowa to Gottlieb and Eleanor (Rau) Kloewer. The family moved around when she was young, so Helen was baptized at St. Joseph’s in Earling, took First Communion at St. Boniface in Westphalia, and was confirmed at Sacred Heart in Manilla. She also attended country school and Catholic school in the various towns before attending and graduating from St. Mary’s in Panama. Helen married Ralph Kleffman on December 3, 1945 at St. Mary’s in Panama and the two moved to the country outside of Portsmouth, where they farmed and Ralph worked construction before moving to town in 1963.
Helen held various jobs over the years, working as a waitress, at the dry cleaners, as a nurses aid, kitchen help at Club 191 and a house cleaning job before retiring.
She loved quilting, made around fifty quilts herself and was a member of the St. Mary’s Quilting Circle in Portsmouth. Helen was also a member of the Women’s Circle and a Birthday Club of twelve women and was the final member living. She enjoyed gardening, baking, traveling and going to dances with Ralph in their younger years. Helen loved reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching some of her favorite shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
Helen passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017 in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of ninety-three years, eight months, and eight days. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Kleffman; sons Bill and Steve Kleffman; sister Jane Kloewer; and brother Donald Kloewer.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Survivors include her children Bob Kleffman and his wife Peggy of San Ramon, California; Ralph Kleffman and his wife Caroline of Olathe, Kansas; Glen Kleffman and his wife Becky of Portsmouth, Iowa; Lori and her husband Bob Mages of Panama, Iowa; Paul Kleffman of Harlan, Iowa; Bernard Kleffman of Portsmouth, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; siblings Jim Kloewer and his wife Rita of Panama; Edna and her husband Keith Mallone of Birmingham, Alabama; Louis Kloewer and his wife Bernice of Castle Rock, Washington; Donna Schwery of Panama; Charlet and her husband Jerry Connally of Tucson, Arizona; Deanna and her husband Gary Clark of Gibbon, Nebraska; Mary Ann and her husband Ken Bell of Apache Junction, Arizona; brothers-in-law Harry Kleffman and his wife Cecilia of Harlan; Rev. Jim Kleffman of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sister-in-law Mary Ann and her husband Leon Scheuller of Dawson, Minnesota; many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Helen held various jobs over the years, working as a waitress, at the dry cleaners, as a nurses aid, kitchen help at Club 191 and a house cleaning job before retiring.
She loved quilting, made around fifty quilts herself and was a member of the St. Mary’s Quilting Circle in Portsmouth. Helen was also a member of the Women’s Circle and a Birthday Club of twelve women and was the final member living. She enjoyed gardening, baking, traveling and going to dances with Ralph in their younger years. Helen loved reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching some of her favorite shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
Helen passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017 in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of ninety-three years, eight months, and eight days. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Kleffman; sons Bill and Steve Kleffman; sister Jane Kloewer; and brother Donald Kloewer.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Survivors include her children Bob Kleffman and his wife Peggy of San Ramon, California; Ralph Kleffman and his wife Caroline of Olathe, Kansas; Glen Kleffman and his wife Becky of Portsmouth, Iowa; Lori and her husband Bob Mages of Panama, Iowa; Paul Kleffman of Harlan, Iowa; Bernard Kleffman of Portsmouth, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; siblings Jim Kloewer and his wife Rita of Panama; Edna and her husband Keith Mallone of Birmingham, Alabama; Louis Kloewer and his wife Bernice of Castle Rock, Washington; Donna Schwery of Panama; Charlet and her husband Jerry Connally of Tucson, Arizona; Deanna and her husband Gary Clark of Gibbon, Nebraska; Mary Ann and her husband Ken Bell of Apache Junction, Arizona; brothers-in-law Harry Kleffman and his wife Cecilia of Harlan; Rev. Jim Kleffman of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sister-in-law Mary Ann and her husband Leon Scheuller of Dawson, Minnesota; many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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