Althoff, Leona Eleanor Klas

Leona Eleanor Klas Althoff, 98, formerly of Dyersville and New Vienna, died peacefully Sunday, March 24, 2013, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, of complications of old age. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where the St. Boniface Altar & Rosary Society will conduct a rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Friends may continue to call at the funeral home from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, New Vienna, with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Noah Diehm.

Leona was born Feb. 4, 1915, the fifth of 11 children born to Henry F. and Wilhelmina (Oberbroeckling) Klas on the Klas farm north of New Vienna. After graduating from the eighth grade at St. Boniface School in New Vienna, she worked on the home farm and later worked as a hired girl on farms around New Vienna. She married Ted H. Althoff, son of Frank and Rose (Mormann) Althoff, on Oct. 7, 1941, at St. Boniface Church in New Vienna. They lived in Dyersville until moving to New Vienna in 1943. She was a housewife and an office partner in Ted's electrical wiring business from 1945 until his death on March 1, 1982. At the request of the mayor in 1963, she started the tradition of the New Vienna Community Hall wedding dinner receptions, serving as head cook and planner until 1978. She also worked with Rosie Kruse's catering service at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds for weddings and banquets. She moved to Dyersville in 1982 and worked as a cook at the Senior Center until retiring in 1987. She moved to the Good Neighbor Home in March 2010.

She was a member of St. Boniface Church in New Vienna and a lifelong member of the St. Boniface Altar and Rosary Society. While residing in Dyersville. she was an active member of the St. Francis Xavier Basilica parish.

She will be remembered always for the guidance and support she gave her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her love of bingo, card games and visiting; and the satisfaction she found in preparing and serving delicious meals. Her excellent memory of 90 plus years of stories of people, places, events and early farm life was appreciated by family and friends.

She is survived by her six children, Margie (Art) Nachtman of Ryan, Fred (Joan) Althoff of Robins, Mary Ellen Althoff of Marion, Laurie (Craig) Rogers of Rockford, Ill., Gary (Marilyn) Althoff of Earlville and Joyce (Mike) Wessels of Rickardsville; 20 grandchildren, Kenny Nachtman, Dr. Jane (Ian Ferguson) Nachtman, Karen (Jim) Oppelt, Lisa (Dan) Edwards, Dennis (Sarah) Nachtman, Matt (Jill) Nachtman, Kristine (Matt) Coulter, Dr. Keri Althoff (Dr. C. John Sperati), Amy (Jen) Althoff, Erin Althoff, Nathan Althoff, Heather (Jamie) Jackman, Sarah (Steve) Schrandt, Kyle (Ashley) Rogers, Tammy (Earl) March, Shannon (Dee) Althoff, Josh Althoff, Brian (Amanda) Wessels, Wendy (Kyle) Askling and Anne Wessels; and great-grandchildren, Andy, Shane and Devon Nachtman, Jeremy and Thomas Ferguson, Madison Oppelt, Samantha, Rebecca and Kathyrn Edwards, Madeline, Abigail and Zachary Nachtman, Maximus and Layla Nachtman, Ella, Claire, Jackson and Bryn Coulter, Charleston Sperati, Declan Althoff, Michaela, Moira and Thomas Jackman, Alexa and Ryan Schrandt, Briana, Shelby and Anthony March, Aubrie and Emalynn Althoff, John, Luke, Matthew and Samantha Wessels.

She is also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Emil and Elsie Althoff of Earlville and Mildred and Ben Zuercher of Garber; five of her 80 first cousins, Agnes Klas of New Vienna, Joe Engelken of Manchester, Sister Marcan Freking of Rochester, Minn. and Margaret Henkels and Ann Mathias of Heron Lake, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; a great-grandchild, Caitlin Schrandt; nine sisters, Mary (Ben) Borgerding, Alvina (Albert) Heilers, Rose (Stephen) Riniker, Irene (Charles) Leibold and Loretta, Ida, Clotilda, Esther and Martha Jane Klas; one brother, Elmer Klas; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Sylvester (Alice), Ambrose and James Althoff and Verna (John) Henkels.

Her family deeply appreciates the pastoral ministry of Cookie Scherrman who tended to Leona's spiritual needs when she was no longer able to go to church and also at the Good Neighbor Home.

Published in The Gazette March 26. 2013.