Luvern Kleist

Luvern Kleist, age 105, went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023. She was born October 23, 1917, to the late Walter and Freida (Thiel) Schmidt on a farm in the Town of Wolf River, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. She married Leonard Kleist on March 27, 1938. They were married 69 years before his death on April 6, 2007. Leonard was an auto mechanic, so they lived in Weyauwega, Symco, Appleton, and Milwaukee before buying a farm in Waushara County. They also bought the Schmidt homestead and farmed there until they retired. They then sold the farm to their son, Dennis, and moved back to the farm in Waushara County, which they owned, and lived there the rest of their lives.

Luvern was a fun-loving person with a great sense of humor. She enjoyed working outdoors, driving tractor, doing farm chores, gardening lots of flowers, and singing and dancing to big band music.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Weber; sons: Melvin (Linda) Kleist, Dennis (Deborah) Kleist; 9 grandchildren: Dorene (Reid) Schoneberg, Richard (Cindy) Schroeder, Brian (Michele) Kleist, Michael (Brenda) Kleist, Melvin Jr. (Rebbeca) Kleist, Timothy Sozda, Bodyne (Jean) Kleist, Shelli (Mark) Robbert, Conrad (friend Em) Kleist; 2 step-grandchildren: Jennifer (Don) Tepsa, Christopher Kersten; 20 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; sister: Margaret Schrank; special nieces: Arlyss Luft, Nannette Lenz; 1 special nephew: Lowell Hoeft; other nieces, nephews, and friends.

Luvern is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 69 years, sister and her husband Neva and Norman Hoeft; brothers: Noel (Ardis) Schmidt, Melvin (Audry) Schmidt; grandson: Lance Kleist; infant brother: Hallert; brothers-in-law: Orville Kleist, sister-in-law and brother-in-law: La Verna and Robert Schroeder, father and mother-in law: Leo and Ella Kleist; brothers-in-law: Robert Wadel and Delores Schrank.

Private services will be held at a later date.