Obituaries : Laura Mae Kesten Kleckner

Laura Mae Kesten Kleckner, 85 of Osage, Iowa, passed away, Monday, February 1, 2021 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Laura was born August 23, 1935 in Osage, to Leonard Lee and Agnes Laura (Knight) Kesten and was raised on the family farm. In 1940, the family resided north of LeRoy, Minnesota. As Minnesota did not have kindergarten, Laura had to stay home. She attended 1st grade through half of 5th grade in Minnesota until the family, moved back to Iowa. She attended Chester No. 7 from 5th grade to 8th grade. In 1949, Laura attended Riceville High School, until her graduation in 1953.

On October 18, 1953, she married Wilbur Clarence Kleckner in Riceville. They resided in Riceville and Cresco while Wilbur became an insurance agent for Farm Bureau in Cresco. In 1960, Wilbur transferred to the claims side and became an adjuster, relocating to Vinton with their four daughters. While in Vinton, Laura worked as an office assistant for many years. When Wilbur retired and the girls had gone on with their own lives, they returned to Northern Iowa where their life together began.

After Kim entered kindergarten, Laura began her career of working outside of the home. She worked as a waitress and an office manager.

Laura loved to bake and tend her large garden. Laura entered many canned goods and baked items into the Benton County Fair, winning her share of ribbons. She even had an entry for the Milk Maid Magic Contest, which went on to the Iowa State Fair competition.

While in Vinton, they belonged to bowling leagues and enjoyed square dancing as members of the Vinton Twirlers. They traveled around to other clubs to capture/recapture the clubs' banner. All of the girls were on the Vinton Aquatic Club. Most weekends, you could find Wilbur and Laura taking the girls to weekend swim meets (throughout the State and Wisconsin). No matter how early the family had to leave to attend swim meets, Laura made a "swimmers' breakfast" for all consisting of hamburgers, dry toast, jello and 7-Up.

When they returned to northern Iowa, Laura was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Roy Gue Post #244 of Riceville, Riceville Garden Club and Congregational Church Circle.

Laura is survived by four daughters, Debbie Kleckner-Chamarty (Murty) of Eden Prairie, MN; Kathy Tomlinson (Carl) of Brooklyn and their son Jarrod Tomlinson (Amanda); Sherri Weis of Brooklyn and Bruce Weis of Stacyville and their children, Matthew (Jill), Michael and Nicole Feller (Jordan); and Kim Pendarvis of

Brooklyn; nine great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law Gordon Kleckner (LaRae) of Riceville; and a sister-in-law Sharen Kleckner of Denison.

Laura was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years; her parents; sister Leone Duryee, brothers-in-law Loren Duryee, Richard and Lowell Kleckner; sister-in-law Leah Kleckner and son-in-law Larry Pendarvis.

Public funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at First United Congregational Church in Riceville. Friends may call one hour prior to services at the church beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville. Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family.