Donald Klenske

DONALD KLENSKE

Cedar Rapids

Donald R. Klenske, 86, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday morning, June 17, 2014, at Manor Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Celebration of Life services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 3, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where friends may call after 10 a.m.

Don is survived by his daughters, Donna (Dan) Phelps of Naples, Fla., Jeanne (Stan) Randall of Waterloo, Judy Peterson of Bettendorf and Dawn Leathem of Tampa, Fla.; one stepson, Marion (Suk) Bartishen of Bonita Springs, Fla.; one brother, Jim (Eleanor) of Waukon; three grandsons, Randy (Kristi) Schmitt and Jamie (Amy) Stratton of Cedar Rapids and Gary Schmitt of New Hampton; three granddaughters, Melanie (Rod) Moeller of Bettendorf, Heather (Eric) Balk of Cedar Falls and Carlee Leathem of Tampa, Fla.; two great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1937, his mother in 1992 and two brothers, Joel in 1998 and Ray in 2009.

Don was born March 8, 1928, in New Hampton, Iowa, the second of four sons born to Max and Mae (Coddington) Klenske. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and was stationed in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to New Hampton and married Marcella "Sally" Kostka, and raised three daughters as well as a son from Sally's previous marriage. He later had another daughter, Dawn, with his second wife, Evelyn.

During his life, Don experienced working and living throughout Iowa and Nebraska. He spent his later years in Cedar Rapids, where he enjoyed sharing stories with his "coffee friends."

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries."